The Poems of The Pearl Manuscript in Modern English Prose Translation Pearl, Cleanness, Patience, Sir Gawain and The Green Knight by Malcolm Andrew, Ronald Waldron (Transl.)

The Poems of
the Pearl Manuscript

in modern English prose translation
For students of Middle English, Andrew and Waldron’s The Poems of the
Pearl Manuscript has been the standard edition of the four Pearl poems for
over thirty years.
With the changing needs of today’s students in mind, the editors produced
a complete prose translation of the four poems – the best-known of which
is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
The near-literal prose translations are intended to facilitate understanding

of the four poems – to lead readers to, rather than away from, the orig-
inal texts. The translations are based faithfully on Andrew and Waldron’s
fifth edition of The Poems of the Pearl Manuscript. This paperback edition is
new to the Exeter Medieval Texts and Studies series.
Malcolm Andrew was previously Professor of English Language and

Literature at Queen’s University Belfast. Ronald Waldron was previ-
ously a lecturer and Emeritus Reader in English Language and Medieval
Literature at King’s College, University of London
EXETER MEDIEVAL TEXTS AND STUDIES
Series Editors: Vincent Gillespie and Richard Dance
Founded by M.J. Swanton
and later co-edited by Marion Glasscoe
The Poems of
the Pearl Manuscript
in modern English prose translation
Pearl, Cleanness, Patience,

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
by Malcolm Andrew
and Ronald Waldron
LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY PRESS

First published in 2007 in CD-ROM format as part of
The Poems of the Pearl Manuscript fifth edition.
This edition published 2013 by

Liverpool University Press
4 Cambridge Street
Liverpool
L69 7ZU
Copyright © 2013 Malcolm Andrew and Ronald Waldron
The rights of Malcolm Andrew and Ronald Waldron to be identified as the

authors of this book has been asserted by them in accordance with the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication data

A British Library CIP record is available
ISBN 978-1-84631-949-5
Typeset by Carnegie Book Production, Lancaster

Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon CR0 4YY
Contents
Preface vii
Introduction ix
Translations:
Pearl 1
Cleanness 29
Patience 71
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 85
Preface
Our intention in this volume has been to provide close, accurate prose
translations of Pearl, Cleanness, Patience, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
– four superb, but linguistically difficult, medieval English poems. The
translations are based on our edition, The Poems of the Pearl Manuscript
(Exeter: University of Exeter Press, fifth edition with translation on
CD-ROM, 2007).
We are acutely aware that the experience of reading a translation is
a poor and feeble substitute for that of reading an original text. These
translations are, therefore, offered in the hope that they will facilitate un-
derstanding of four fine poems – and will lead readers to, rather than away
from, the original texts.
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the help and stimulation which we have
received from the scholars whose work we have consulted, the friends and
colleagues who have offered advice and information, and the students with
whom we have discussed these poems over many years.
MALCOLM ANDREW AND RONALD WALDRON

July 2007
Introduction
1. The Poems
This volume contains translations of four of the finest poems written in
English during the late Middle Ages: Pearl, Cleanness (or Purity), Patience, and
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Their survival in a single, rather modest,
manuscript, British Library MS Cotton Nero A.x, constitutes a piece of
notable good fortune, since without them the literary history of the pe-
riod would be significantly impoverished. The manuscript can be dated
to the very end of the fourteenth century. The poems themselves would
have been composed somewhat earlier, probably between 1360 and 1390
– which makes them contemporaneous with the works of Chaucer, Lang-
land, and Gower. The dialect in which they were written indicates that the
poet – or poets – responsible came originally from the North-West Mid-
lands, perhaps Cheshire or Staffordshire.
Most scholars accept the theory that the poems were written by a single
poet, who has generally been termed ‘the Gawain-Poet’ or ‘the Pearl-Poet’.
Though we support this view, we do not regard the significance of the po-
ems as in any way dependant upon it. We have, therefore, preferred – both
here and in our edition – to term them ‘The Poems of the Pearl Manu-
script’ (after Pearl, which appears first in the manuscript) rather than ‘The
Works of the Gawain- (or Pearl-) Poet’. The theory of common authorship
derived originally from two facts: that the poems are written in the same di-
alect and survived together in a unique manuscript. It has been developed
and elaborated over the years, by exploration of various parallels, echoes,
and similarities between the poems, which tend to suggest that they were
written by the same poet. These include an unusual skill in the shaping of
narratives, a profound familiarity with the bible and Christian doctrine, a
willingness to retell or reflect on scriptural stories with remarkable freedom
and invention, a sympathetic interest in the struggles of human beings
to deal with the divine and the mysterious, and a wryly engaging sense
of humour. Some scholars have attributed another poem, St Erkenwald, to
Poems of the Pearl Manuscript: A Prose Translation
the (hypothetical) poet, mainly on the basis of the similarity of the dialect
in which it is written; this theory now attracts little support. Others have
proposed conjectural identifications of the poet – most notably with Hugh
or John Massy. No such conjecture commands any significant level of sup-
port.
2. The Translations
Our intention has been to translate the poems into plain and unadorned
prose, staying as close to the original as modern English idiom will allow,
in order to reveal what may loosely be termed the ‘literal’ sense of the text.
Readers approaching these poems from an acquaintance with Chaucer’s
works will already be aware that one of the chief difficulties of Middle
English for the modern reader is the occurrence of now-obsolete mean-
ings in familiar-looking words or expressions: gentle meaning ‘noble’, quaint
meaning ‘elegant’ or ‘intricate’, kind meaning ‘nature’ or ‘natural’, and so
on. There are numerous examples of this sort of pitfall (sometimes called
‘false friends’) in these poems. Thus, for instance, in Sir Gawain 34, we be-
lieve that stori denotes ‘written chronicle’ rather than simply ‘story’, in Pearl
407, louez probably means ‘approves of ’ rather than ‘loves’; and in Patience
473, ‘pleasant’ makes better sense than ‘wild’ for wyl. Interpretations such
as these are based on the recorded history of the word together with a con-
sideration of its context, and are discussed in the notes to the edition.
Alliterative poetry presents special problems which arise from the
nature of the style and metre in which it is written. For the commonest
concepts, such as ‘man’, ‘go’, or ‘fight’, the alliterative poet made free
use of numerous synonyms with different initial letters. In Patience 63-97,
a passage of 33 lines, the poet uses no fewer than seven different verbs
of motion, with reference to Jonah’s response to God’s command that
he should go to Nineveh: glyde (past tense glod, 63), rayke (65, 89), sweye
(72), tee (87), com (78), aproche (85), and pass (97). Other near-synonyms for
‘go’ can be found elsewhere in the poems: bowe (Cleanness 482, Sir Gawain
1. For further information, see the Introduction to our edition, The Poems of the
Pearl Manuscript (fifth edition), Exeter, 2007.
Introduction xi
2077), ferk (Sir Gawain 1072), sech (to) (Cleanness 563, Sir Gawain 1052), threnge
(Patience 354), wende (Cleanness 777), and, of course, go itself (Patience 348).
While individual words may express particular shades of meaning, and
it is sometimes rewarding to allow for this in one’s reading, metrical
considerations are undoubtedly influential in the poet’s choice, and in
many instances the general sense (in this case ‘come’ or ‘go’) can be a
satisfactory translation.
Alongside this apparent levelling of vocabulary, it should be recognized
that a prose translation must necessarily fail to express many layers of
meaning latent in the original text, since the language of poetry works
as much by what it suggests as by what it denotes. In many contexts the
translator is forced to choose between two meanings, both of which may
be perceived to be present to a sensitive reader of the poem. This is the
case, for instance, in Sir Gawain 4, Watz tried for his tricherie, where tried ap-
pears to mean both ‘tried (legally)’ and ‘famous’, or in Pearl 259, where the
word cofer suggests both ‘jewel case’ and ‘coffin’. Examples like these can be
analysed in the notes to an edition but have to be treated more arbitrarily
in a translation.
These are, moreover, poems which characteristically use paronoma-
sia (wordplay) to conduct searching explorations of the various potential
meanings and connotations of certain key words. In the sixth section of
Pearl (lines 301-60), deme is used in a variety of senses, among them ‘judge’,
‘ordain’, ‘censure’, ‘condemn’, ‘allow’, ‘expect’, and ‘understand’. A more
sustained example of this tendency occurs in Cleanness, where the Middle
English clene is used to denote or suggest a wide range of qualities, includ-
ing ‘(morally) pure’, ‘(physically) clean’, ‘chaste’, ‘bright’, ‘fine’, ‘exact’, and
‘perfect’. Other terms treated by the poet in a similar way include cortaysye
and trawthe, while much of the legal terminology in Pearl (in addition to
deme) has been shown to have multiple meanings. Such bold and inventive
use of language presents the translator with a considerable challenge. In
attempting to render the precise meaning of words in each context, we are
conscious that a prose translation greatly weakens the poetic impact of the
original. Again it must be emphasized that the translations cannot be a
substitute for the poems themselves.
xii Poems of the Pearl Manuscript: A Prose Translation
One of the recurring features of these poems is their tendency to

switch freely between the past and present tenses, particularly during
passages which describe action (as, for instance, in Cleanness 129-60,
Patience 247-81, and Sir Gawain 1126-77). After careful consideration, we
decided not to make any attempt to regularize this feature in our transla-
tions. We have, on the other hand, not felt bound to render the Middle
English adverb ful (‘very’, ‘fully’, ‘entirely’, etc.) when used for emphasis.
In places where we have felt it necessary to add words, either to clarify
meaning or to provide explanation, we have used square brackets, with
‘i.e.’ or ‘lit.’ (‘literally’) where appropriate.
The translations of Pearl and of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight retain
the stanza divisions of the original poems. In the cases of Cleanness and
Patience – the originals of which are not, in our view, divided into stanzas
– we have divided the narrative into paragraphs at what we regard as
appropriate junctures. These divisions, of course, have no manuscript
authority whatever. We have provided regular line numberings, within
square brackets, in order to assist the reader with the process of identi-
fying passages in the translations with equivalent passages in the original
texts.
2. Some scholars take the view that these two poems were written in quatrains.
For further discussion, see the Introduction to The Poems of the Pearl Manuscript
(pp. 16 and 19).
Introduction xiii
3. Suggestions for further reading

An extensive select bibliography is provided in The Poems of the Pearl
Manuscript.
Single-volume edition of the four poems

The Poems of the Pearl Manuscript: “Pearl”, “Cleanness”, “Patience”, “Sir
Gawain and the Green Knight” (fully revised fifth edition with new
introduction and incorporating prose translation on CD-ROM),
ed. Malcolm Andrew and Ronald Waldron. Exeter: University of
Exeter Press, 2007.
Individual editions of the four poems

Pearl, ed. E.V. Gordon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1953.
Cleanness, ed. J.J. Anderson. Manchester: Manchester University Press,
1977.
Patience, ed. J.J. Anderson. Manchester: Manchester University Press,
1969.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, ed. J.R.R. Tolkien and E.V. Gordon, rev.
Norman Davies. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1967.
Criticism and reference

Brewer, Derek, and Jonathan Gibson, eds. A Companion to the “Gawain”-
Poet. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer, 1997.
Burrow, J.A. The “Gawain”-Poet. Writers and their Work series.
Horndon: Northcote House, 2001.
Mehl, Dieter. “The Gawain-Poet.” English Literature in the Age of Chaucer.
Harlow: Longman, 2001. 108-26.
Putter, Ad. An Introduction to the “Gawain”-Poet. London: Longman, 1996.
Pearl
Lovely pearl, which it pleases a prince to set radiantly in gold so bright:

I declare assuredly that I never found her equal in value among those of
the orient. So round, so lovely in every setting, her sides were so slender,
so smooth; wherever I judged bright gems, I set her apart in uniqueness.
Alas! I lost her in a garden; through the grass to the ground it slipped
from me. I languish, grievously wounded by the power of my love for that
spotless pearl of mine.
[13] Since it sprang from me in that place, I have often watched, longing
for that precious thing which used formerly to dispel my sorrow and
increase my happiness and all my well-being – that oppresses my heart
grievously, [and] causes my breast to swell and burn in sorrow. Never yet
did a song seem to me to have such sweetness as a moment of peace let
steal over me. In truth there used to come fleetingly to me many [such
moments]. To think of her complexion clad, as now, in mud! O earth,
you disfigure a beautiful jewel, my own spotless pearl.
[25] That place is bound to be overspread with spice-bearing plants,

where such wealth has run to decay; yellow and blue and red blooms
shine there most brightly towards the sun. Flower and fruit cannot be
faded where it [i.e. the pearl] sank down into the dun clods, for every
plant must grow from dead seeds; otherwise no wheat would be brought
to the homes [i.e. brought in, harvested]. Every good thing always has its
origin in a good thing: so lovely a seed could not fail to be productive,
so that flourishing spice plants would not shoot up from that precious
spotless pearl.
Pearl lines [37–84]
[37] I entered that green garden, that place which I describe in words, in
August on a festival, when corn is cut with sharp sickles. On the grave-
mound where the pearl had rolled down, these bright and beautiful plants
cast a shadow: gillyflower, ginger, and gromwell, and peonies scattered
everywhere at intervals. If it was lovely to look at, still fairer was the scent
that wafted from it, where that precious one lives, I believe and know, my
precious spotless pearl.
[49] Before that place I clasped my hands together because of the chilling
sorrow that seized me; a desolating grief lay deep in my heart, though
reason would have reconciled me. I mourned my pearl that was imprisoned
there, with fierce arguments that fought insistently. Though the nature of
Christ taught me comfort, my wretched will was ever tormented in grief.
Such perfume rushed to my brain that I fell upon that flowery turf; I
slipped into a sudden sleep on that precious spotless pearl.
II
[61] From that place my spirit ascended after a time; my body remained
there on the mound in sleep. Through God’s grace, my spirit went on
a quest where marvels occur. I did not know where in this world it was,
but I knew I was set down where cliffs rise sheer. I turned towards a
forest where splendid rocks were to be seen. No one might believe the
radiance of them, the gleaming glory that shone from them, for never
were tapestries woven by humans of half so glorious splendour.
[73] The sides of all those hills were adorned with crystal cliffs of so clear
a quality. Bright woods lay about them, with trunks as blue as indigo; the
leaves, which quivered in profusion on every branch, slid over each other
like burnished silver. When the gleams from clear patches of sky glided
over them, they shone most brightly with a lovely shimmering. The gravel
that crunched on the ground was precious orient pearls; the beams of the
sun seemed dark and dim by comparison with that splendour.
[85] The splendour of those noble hills caused my spirit to forget all grief.
The scents from the fruits were so fresh that it nourished me delightfully
like food. Birds of glowing colours, both small and great, flew together
in the wood; but the string of the citole and the gittern-player would not
be able to reproduce their joyful music, for when those birds beat their
wings, they sang with a sweet harmony. No one could find such blessed
joy as to hear and see their spendour.
[97] The wood where Fortune was taking me forward was arrayed in
so entirely splendid a fashion [that] no one capable of speech is able to
describe the glory of it. I walked ever onward in a blissful state, no bank
big enough that [it] put obstacles in my way. The further in the wood,
the fairer rose the meadow, the shrubs, the spice-plants, the pear-trees,
and hedgerows, and water-meadows, and splendid river-banks, their steep
slopes like fine gold thread. I came to a stream that meanders along the
shore; lord, its splendour was noble!
[109] The adornment[s] of those splendid waters were beautiful banks

of bright beryl. Swirling pleasantly the water swept by, flowing straight
on with a murmuring sound. On the bottom there shone brilliant stones,
which glowed and glinted like a beam of light through glass – as stars
streaming with light shine in the winter sky while people on earth sleep;
for every pebble set there in the water-course was emerald, sapphire, or
[other] fair gem, so that the whole stream shone with light, so noble was
its splendour.
III
[121] The noble splendour of hill and dales, of wood and water and
lovely meadows, built up joy in me, ended my sorrows, quelled my
anguish, and dispelled my pains. Down along a stream that continually
flows I went in bliss, my brains brimful [with joy]; the farther I followed
those stream-filled valleys, the greater strength of joy constrained my
heart. As Fortune proceeds where she tests [a person], whether she sends
pleasure or else pain, the person to whom she sends her desire chances
to have more and more [of the same] all the time.
[133] There was more delight in that scene than I could describe even
if I had time, for an earthly heart could not have sufficient capacity
for the tenth part of those glad joys. Therefore I thought that paradise
was over nearby those broad banks; I supposed that the water was a
division between pleasure-gardens laid out beside pools; beyond the
brook, somewhere or other, I believed the city was situated. But the water
was deep, I dared not wade, and all the time I longed more and more.
[145] More and more, and much more still, I longed to see beyond the
brook, for if it was beautiful where I was walking, the farther land was still
more lovely. I stopped and stared about me; I tried hard to find a ford,
but indeed there were more perils the further I walked along the shore.
And all the time it seemed to me that I should not hesitate for [fear of]
harm, where there were such delightful joys. Then a new matter came to
my notice, which moved my mind ever more and more.
[157] More marvels daunted my mind. Beyond that beautiful water I

saw a crystal cliff completely radiant: many a glorious ray [of light] rose
from it. At the foot of it sat a child, a courteous maiden, most gracious;
her mantle was shining white; I knew her well; I had seen her before.
That fair maiden at the foot of the cliff shone like glistening gold which
has been cut. For a long time I looked towards her there; the longer [I
looked], the more and more I knew her.
[169] The more I scrutinized her fair face, when I had noticed her noble
form, such gladdening exultation swept to me as had been but little wont
to do so before. Desire urged me to call her, but confusion dealt my heart
a blow. I saw her in so strange a place – such a shock might well stun
my heart. Then she raised her fair forehead, her face as white as smooth
ivory: that stung my heart into bewildered amazement, and always the
longer, the more and more.
IV
[181] My fear grew greater than my longing [lit. than I longed]: I stood
quite silent and dared not call; with eyes open and mouth completely
closed I stood as meek as a hawk in hall. I thought that quarry was
spiritual; I was afraid about what might happen, in case she whom I
beheld there eluded me before I could stop her for a meeting. That
gracious, flawless fair maiden, so smooth, so slim, so becomingly slender,
stands up in her royal array, a precious being adorned with pearls.
[193] There by grace one could have seen pearls of royal worth set, when
that [one] fresh as fleur-de-lys came directly down the slope. Her fine
linen [garment] was all shining white, open at the sides, and beautifully
bound with the finest pearls, in my opinion, that I ever saw yet with
my eyes; with large hanging sleeves, I know and believe, decorated and
adorned with double pearls; her bright gown to match, all arrayed about
with precious pearls.
[205] That girl also wore a decorated crown of pearls and no other
stone, with high pinnacles of clear white pearl, with perfect flowers
figured on [it]. On her head she had no other circlet; her wimple
entirely encompassed her; her face grave enough for a duke or earl,
her complexion purer white than ivory. Her hair, that lay lightly on
her shoulders, unbound, shone then like bright cut gold. The intense
whiteness of her complexion was not inferior even to that of a precious
pearl set in an embroidered border.
[217] The wristband and every hem – at hand, at sides, at neck-opening

– was set with white pearls and no other gem, and her clothing was
brilliant white. But a wonderful flawless pearl was set so firmly in the
middle of her breast; a man’s judgement might be utterly baffled before
his mind could conceive its magnitude. I think no tongue could have
power to describe that sight in adequate speech, it was so clean and clear
and pure, that precious pearl where it was set.
[229] That precious being arrayed in pearl came down the shore on the
opposite side of the water. [There was] no happier man from here to
Greece than I, when she was on the bank; she was nearer to me than
aunt or niece: therefore my joy was much the greater. That precious
being addressed words to me, bowing low in womanly fashion, took off
her crown of great value and greeted me with a joyful speech. It was
happiness to me that ever I was born to answer that sweet maiden arrayed
in pearls!
[241] ‘O pearl,’ I said, ‘arrayed in pearls, are you my pearl that I have
mourned, grieved for alone at night? I have concealed much longing for
you, since you slipped away from me into the grass. Sorrowful, wasted, I
am overcome by pain, and you [are] settled in a life of pleasure, in the
land of paradise, untroubled by strife. What fate has brought my jewel
hither, and caused me this sorrow and great deprivation? Since we were
severed and parted from each other I have been a joyless jeweller.’
[253] Then that jewel in noble gems raised her face with its blue-grey
eyes, put on her crown of orient pearl, and afterwards then she said
gravely: ‘Sir, you have spoken heedlessly, to say your pearl is entirely lost,
which is enclosed in such a beautiful coffer as in this charmingly fair
garden, to stay here for ever and rejoice, where neither loss nor sorrow
ever come near. Here would be a casket for you, indeed, if you were a
noble jeweller.
[265] ‘But, courteous jeweller, if you are going to lose your joy for a
gem that was dear to you, it seems to me that you are set on a mad
purpose, and concern youself on account of a transitory cause; for what
you lost was only a rose that flowered and withered as nature allowed it;
now, through the nature of the chest that encloses it, it is shown to be a
precious pearl. And you have called [the Ruler of] your fate a thief, who
has clearly made you something out of nothing; you blame the remedy
for your misfortune; you are no proper jeweller.’
[277] Then this visitor was a jewel to me, and jewels were her courteous
statements. ‘Indeed,’ I said, ‘my blissful noble one, you completely dispel
my great distress. I beg you to pardon me. I believed that my pearl was
annihilated; now I have found it I shall rejoice, and live with it in bright
groves, and praise my Lord and all His laws who has brought me near
this bliss. If I were now beside you beyond these waters, I would be a
joyful jeweller.’
[289] ‘Jeweller,’ said that pure gem, ‘why do you humans jest? You
are so mad! You have spoken three statements at once: all three were,
indeed, thoughtless. You do not know at all what one [of them] means;
your speech escaped before you thought [lit. before your understanding].
You say you believe me [to be] in this valley because you can see me
with [your] eyes; second, you say you will yourself live right here in this
country with me; the third, that you will pass this noble stream – that
may no joyful jeweller.
VI
[301] ‘I consider unworthy of praise that jeweller who believes well

what he sees with [his] eye, and very blameworthy and discourteous
one who believes that our Lord, who faithfully promised to raise your
life though Fortune caused your flesh to die, would tell a lie. You, who
believe nothing unless you have seen it, set His words completely awry;
and it is an instance of pride, which ill befits any good man, to believe
no account to be true when put to the test except what his judgement
alone can understand.
[313] ‘Now judge yourself whether you have spoken in the way in which
a human should address words to God. You say you will live in this realm;
it seems to me you ought first ask leave – and even then you might fail (to
obtain) consent. You wish to pass over this stream; you must first attain to
another course of action. Your corpse must sink, colder, into the earth, for
it was forfeited in the Garden of Eden. Our ancestor [i.e. Adam] failed to
guard it. Every man must make his way through cruel death before God
allows him over this water.’
[325] ‘Do you condemn me,’ I said, ‘my sweet, to sorrow again? Then I
[shall] pine away. Now I have found what I lost, shall I give it up again
before I end my life? Why must I both find and lose it? My precious pearl
causes me great pain. What does treasure avail, but cause one to weep
when he must lose it again with sorrows? Now I do not care if I fall from
prosperity, nor how far away I am driven. When I am deprived of my
pearl what can one expect but lasting sorrow?’
[337] ‘You speak of nothing but the sorrow of grief,’ then said that
being, ‘why do you so? Through the tumult of grief for lesser sorrows
many a man often loses the greater [thing]. You ought rather to cross
yourself, and always praise God, in prosperity and suffering, for anger
does not profit you a jot. Whoever must necessarily suffer, let him not be
so stubborn; for though you writhe like a doe, struggle and bray out your
wild agonies, when you can [go] no further, this way or that, you must
endure what He will ordain.
[349] ‘Censure the Lord, arraign him for ever, He will not turn aside
a foot from the path. Your recompense is increased not a jot, even if in
your misery you should never be happy. Desist from your wrangling and
cease to chide, and seek his mercy swiftly and earnestly; your prayer may
penetrate His pity, so that mercy will make known her skills. His comfort
can assuage your anguish and easily banish your griefs; for, [though you
may] lament or rave, grieve and hide your feelings, it is entirely in His
power to dispose and judge.’
VII
[361] Then I said to that damsel: ‘Let there be no offence to my Lord if

I rashly rave, stumbling in my speech: my heart was all oppressed with a
sense of loss, as surging water goes out of a spring. I put myself at His
mercy always. Never rebuke me with stern words, though I err, my dear
gold-adorned one, but gently show me your consolation, compassionately
bearing this in mind: you, who before were the foundation of all my bliss,
made sorrow familiar to me.
[373] ‘You have been both my joy and my sorrow, but yet much greater
[than either] was my grief; after you were removed from every peril, I
had no idea at all where my pearl had gone. Now I see it, now my grief
is assuaged. And when we parted we were in harmony; God forbid that
we should now be at variance; we meet so seldom anywhere. Though
you know how to speak courteously, I am but dust and lack manners; but
the mercy of Christ and Mary and John, these are the foundation of all
my bliss.
[385] ‘I see you joyously situated in bliss, and I [am] a man all sorrowful
[and] dejected. You take very little notice of it, though I often suffer
burning sorrows. But now I am here in your presence, I wish to beseech,
without contention, that you would tell me, in earnest agreement, what
[kind of] life you lead all the time, for I am, indeed, most glad that your
condition has become one of honour and good fortune; it is the highway
of all my joy, [and] the foundation of all my bliss.’
[397] ‘Now, sir, may bliss befall you,’ that one [so] lovely one of limb and
face then said, ‘and [you are] welcome to walk and stay here, for your
words are now pleasing to me. Arrogant temper and great pride, I assure
you, are bitterly hated here. My Lord does not approve of complaining,
for all who live near Him are meek; and when you are to appear in His
domain, be deeply devout in complete humility. My Lord, the Lamb, who
is the foundation of all my bliss, always approves of such demeanour.
10 Pearl lines [409–456]
[409] ‘You say I lead a blissful life; you wish to know the status of it. You
know well when your pearl fell I was very young and of tender age; but
my Lord the Lamb through His divinity took me in marriage to Him,
crowned me queen to flourish in bliss for a duration of days that shall
always continue; and His dear one is made possessor of all His heritage.
I am wholly His. His worth, His nobility, and His lineage is the root and
foundation of all my bliss.’
VIII
[421] ‘Blissful one,’ I said, ‘can this be true? – do not be offended if I

speak heresy – are you the queen of the blue heavens, whom all this
world must honour? We believe in Mary, from whom grace grew, who
bore a child in virginity. Who could remove the crown from her unless
she surpassed her in some noble quality? Now, because of the uniqueness
of her sweetness, we call her Phoenix of Arabia, which flew unique from
her Creator – as did the queen of courtesy.’
[433] ‘Courteous queen,’ then said that fair maiden, kneeling on the
ground, her face upturned, ‘matchless mother and fairest maiden, blessed
originator of every grace!’ Then she rose and paused, and spoke to me
there and then: ‘Sir, many here strive for and receive [the] prize, but
[there are] no usurpers within this domain; that empress has all heaven
– and earth and hell – in her dominion; yet she will oust none from their
heritage, for she is queen of courtesy.
[445] ‘The court of the kingdom of the living God has an attribute in
its own nature: everyone who may arrive there is queen or king of all the
realm, and yet one shall never dispossess another, but each one [will be]
glad of the others’ possession, and wish their crowns were five times as
precious, if any improvement of them were possible. But my lady from
whom Jesus was born, she holds the highest supremacy over us, and that
displeases none of our company, for she is queen of courtesy.
Pearl lines [457–503] 11
[457] ‘Through divine grace, as St Paul says, we are all members of

Jesus Christ: just as head and arm and leg and belly belong to their
body very firmly and faithfully, in just the same way each Christian soul
is a limb belonging to the Master of spiritual mysteries. Then consider:
what hatred or bitterness is implanted or fixed between your limbs? Your
head has neither resentment nor spite if you wear a ring on your arm
or finger. Thus we all behave with love and joy towards king and queen
by courtesy.’
[469] ‘Divine grace,’ I said, ‘and great charity, I believe, are among you;
but provided that my speech does not offend you [i.e. if you don’t mind
my saying so], ... you raise yourself over-high in heaven, to make yourself,
who were so young, a queen. What greater honour might he obtain who
had endured steadfast in the world, and lived in penance all his life to buy
his bliss with bodily pain? What greater honour might he receive than to
be crowned king through divine grace?
IX
[481] ‘That Courteous One is too liberal in action, if what you say is true.
You lived not two years in our land; you never knew how either to please
or to pray to God, nor [did you] ever [know] either Paternoster or Creed
– and made a queen on the first day! I cannot believe, so help me God,
that God would blunder so badly. On my word [lit. by my faith], young
lady, it would be fine to hold the rank of countess in heaven, or else [of]
a lady of lower position; but a queen! – it is too exalted a rank.’
[493] ‘There is no limit to His generosity,’ that noble maiden then said
to me, ‘for everything that He ordains is truth, and He can do nothing
that is not just. As Matthew relates in the true gospel in your mass, about
almighty God, He conceives [it] very aptly in a parable and likens it to
[the] bright [kingdom of] heaven. “My kingdom on high,” he says, “is
like a lord who had a vineyard, I perceive. The beginning of the season
had come, the time was right for working in the vineyard.
[505] ‘“Labourers know that season of the year well. The lord arose
very early to hire workmen for his vineyard, and finds some there for his
purpose. They came to an agreement [to work] for a penny a day, and
they go out, labour and work and take great pains, cut and tie and make
it [the crop] secure. About the third hour the lord goes to the market, and
there he finds men standing unemployed. ‘Why are you standing idle?’ he
said to them; ‘don’t you recognize any beginning to this day?’
[517] ‘“‘We came here before the beginning of the day’ was the answer
given with one accord. ‘We have been standing here since the sun rose,
and no man has asked us to do anything at all.’ ‘Go into my vineyard, do
what you know how to do’: thus said the lord, and made an agreement
of it. ‘Whatever reasonable pay may have mounted up by night I will pay
you fully.’ They went into the vineyard and worked, and all day the lord
went on his way like this, and brought new men into his vineyard until
the day was almost past its end.
[529] ‘“At the time of day of evensong, one hour before the sun goes
down, he saw very strong men idle there and said to them with a serious
voice: ‘Why do you stand idle all day long?’ They said they could find
no employment anywhere [lit. their hire was nowhere arranged]. ‘Go to
my vineyard, young labourers, and work and do what you can.’ Soon the
world became dark; the sun had set and it grew late. He gave summons
for them to receive their pay; the day had quite ended.
[541] ‘“The lord observed the end of the day and called to his reeve: ‘Sir,
pay the workers; give them the wages that I owe them, and moreover, so
that no one may reproach me, set them all in a row and give each one
alike a penny. Begin with the last who stands at the end, until you reach
the first.’ And then the first ones began to complain and said that they
had worked hard: ‘These exerted themselves only one hour; it seems to
us that we ought to receive more.
[553] ‘“‘We who have endured the heat of the day have deserved more,
it seems to us, than those who did not work two hours, and you put them
on a par with us.’ Then the lord said to one of them: ‘Friend, I do not
wish to make any reduction [of what is due] to you; take what is your
own and go. Seeing that I hired you for a penny without distinction, why
do you now begin to wrangle? Was not a penny your contract then? One
can by no means claim more than is agreed on: why then will you ask
for more?
[565] ‘“‘Moreover, is it not lawful for me to give – to do whatever I please

with my own? Or else is your eye turned to evil because I am generous
and cheat no one?’ Thus shall I apportion it,” says Christ: “the last shall
be the first who comes [for reward], and the first shall be last, however
swift he may be, for many are called, though few are chosen.” Thus
poor men always collect their share, though they came late and were
insignificant [on earth], and though their labour is spent with small result:
the mercy of God is much the greater.
[577] ‘I have more joy and bliss here, of exalted rank and perfection of
life than all the people in the world could win if they were to ask for a
reward according to justice. Although I began just now – I came into
the vineyard in the evening – my Lord remembered my wages first: I
was paid at once in full. Yet there were others who took more time, who
laboured and sweated for a long time, who [have] still received nothing
[in the way] of pay, and who perhaps will [receive] nothing more this
year [i.e. for a long time].
[589] Then I spoke further, and said plainly: ‘Your account seems
unreasonable to me; God’s justice is ready and always supreme, or holy
scripture is but a fable. In the Psalter there is a clear verse which declares
an incontrovertible point [of doctrine]: “You reward each one according

to his merit, you high King ever supreme in judgement.” Now if you
came to payment before him who remained steadfast all day long, then
those who have done less work would be entitled to take more, and
however much less [they worked] so much the more.’
XI
[601] ‘No uncertainty about more or less exists in God’s kingdom,’ said
that gentle being, ‘for there every man is paid the same, whether his
desert be small or great. For the noble Ruler is no niggard, whichever
He metes out – what is pleasant or what is hard: He pours out His gifts
like water from a ditch, or streams from a deep source that has never
ceased to flow. His generosity is great: those who at any time in their
lives submitted to Him who rescues sinners – from them no bliss will be
witheld, for the grace of God is great enough.
[613] ‘But now you argue, in order to confute me, that I have received
my penny here unjustly; you say that I who came too late am not worthy
of so great a reward. Did you ever know any man [who] remained all the
time so holy in his prayers that he did not in some kind of way, at some
time, forfeit the reward of bright heaven? And always the older they were
the more often they forsook right and committed wrong. Then mercy and
grace must guide them, for the grace of God is great enough.
[625] ‘But an innocent has grace enough: as soon as they are born they
descend in due course into the water of baptism. That is when they are
brought into the vineyard. Soon the night of death causes the day to sink,
inlaid with darkness. Those who never worked amiss before they departed
the noble Lord then pays [as] His labourers. They did His bidding; they
were in that place [i.e. the vineyard]; why should He not recognize their
labour? Yes, and pay them first and in full? For the grace of God is great
enough.
[637] ‘It is very well known that mankind in general was first created for
perfect bliss. Our first father forfeited it through an apple upon which
he bit; we were all condemned because of that food to die in sorrow,
deprived of joy, and then go to the fire of hell, to dwell in that place
without relief. But soon there came a remedy for it; precious blood flowed
on the cross so cruel, and precious water; then, in that predicament, the
grace of God grew great enough.
[649] ‘Enough streamed out of that spring – blood and water from the
broad wound. The blood redeemed us from the pain of hell, and saved
us from the second death; to tell the truth, the water that followed the
spear so cruelly sharpened is baptism, which washes away the deadly sins
through which Adam drowned us in death. Now there is nothing in the
round world between us and bliss but what He removed, and that [i.e.
bliss] is restored in a blessed hour; and the grace of God is great enough.
XII
[661] ‘The man who sins anew may have grace enough if he repents,
but he must ask for it with contrition and sorrow, and endure the pain
attached to it. But Reason, which cannot stray from justice, always saves
the innocent person; it is a judgement that God never gave that the
guiltless should ever be punished. The guilty person may find contrition
and be brought to grace through mercy; but he who never turned aside
towards deceit is safe and justified as an innocent person.
[673] ‘This is how I know for sure that God is to save two [kinds of] men
– for this reason: the just man shall see His face, the guiltless man shall
come to Him. The Psalter says it in this way in a passage: “Lord, who
shall climb Your high hill, or rest within Your holy domain?” He [i.e.
the Psalmist] is not slow to answer himself: “He who did no evil with his
hands, who is pure and unsullied at heart, shall set his foot [i.e. stand] at
rest”: the innocent person is always safe by right.
[685] ‘The righteous man shall also, certainly, come to that fair stronghold
– those who do not spend their life in folly or deceive their neighbour with
guile. Solomon says plainly about this righteous man, [that] our Wisdom
received him; He made him go along most narrow ways and showed
him the kingdom of God for a time, like one who says, “Behold yonder
beautiful domain: you may win it if you are valiant.” But assuredly,
without doubt, the innocent person is always safe by right.
[697] ‘However, concerning just men, a certain man, David, says in

the Psalter, if you have ever seen it: “Lord, never bring Your servant to
judgement, for no living man is justified before You.” Therefore, when
you have to come to the court where all our cases shall be called, if you
plead right you may be refuted in argument by this same speech that I
have noticed. But [may] He who died bloody on the cross, grievously
pierced through the hands, grant you free to go when you are tried,
through innocence and not by right.
[709] ‘He who can read correctly, let him look at the book and be
instructed how Jesus walked among the people in old times, and people
brought their children to Him; they humbly begged Him to touch their
children for the happiness and healing that went from Him. His disciples
commanded them with reproof “Leave off !” and with their words held
back many people. Jesus then graciously said to them: “Stop, let children
come to Me; the kingdom of heaven is prepared for such”: the innocent
person is always safe by right.
XIII
[721] ‘Justice summoned His gentle ones [i.e. the disciples] to Him,
and said no one could win his kingdom unless he came to it absolutely
like a child – otherwise he would never enter there. Harmless, true, and
undefiled, without stain or blemish of polluting sin: when such knock at
the dwelling, the gate will be unbolted for them at once. There is the joy
that will not cease, which the jeweller sought through precious jewellery,
and sold all his goods, both woollen and linen, to buy himself a pearl
that was flawless.
[733] ‘This peerless pearl that is bought dearly, for which the jeweller
gave all his goods, is like the realm of bright heavens – so said the Father
of earth and sea – for it is flawless, clean, and bright, and perfectly round,
and lovely of nature, and belongs in common to all that were righteous.
Lo, it shone right in the middle of my breast: my Lord the Lamb, who
shed His blood, He set it here as a symbol of peace. I advise you to
forsake the mad world and buy your flawless pearl.’
[745] ‘O flawless pearl in pure pearls,’ I said, ‘who wear the pearl of
price, who formed your fair figure for you? Whoever made your clothing
was most skilful; your beauty never came from nature – Pygmalion never
painted your face, nor did Aristotle through his learning speak of the
nature of these special virtues; your complexion surpasses the fleur-de-
lis; your angelic bearing [is] so completely gracious. Tell me, beautiful
maiden, what kind of position does such a flawless pearl hold?’
[757] ‘My peerless Lamb,’ she said, ‘my beloved Destiny who can amend
everything, chose me for His bride, although at one time such a union
would have seemed unfitting. When I left your damp world He called me
to His beatitude: “Come here to Me, My sweet love, for there is no stain
or spot in you.” He gave me strength and also beauty; on the dais he
washed my clothing in His blood, and crowned me pure in virginity, and
arrayed me in flawless pearls.’
[769] ‘Why, flawless bride who shine so bright, who have such rich and
plentiful royal dignities, what kind of thing can that Lamb be who would
wed you as His wife? You climbed so high over all others to lead with Him
so queenly a life. So many [beautiful] ladies have lived in hard struggle
for Christ, and you have thrust out all those noble ones, driving away all
others from that marriage, you alone [being] strong and firm enough, a
peerless and flawless maiden.’
XIV
[781] ‘Flawless, unblemished, and without stain I am,’ said that beautiful
queen, and that I may maintain with honour, but I did not say “peerless
queen”. We are the brides of the Lamb in heaven, a company of a
hundred and forty thousand, as it is seen in the Apocalypse: St John saw
them all in a group. On the hill of Sion, that lovely mound, the apostle
saw them in a spiritual vision, adorned for their wedding on that hilltop,
the new city of Jerusalem.
[793] ‘I shall tell about Jerusalem. If you want to know what He is like
– my Lamb, my Lord, my dear Jewel, my Joy, my Bliss, my gracious Love
– the prophet Isaiah speaks compassionately of His meekness: “That
glorious Innocent One who was put to death without any criminal charge,
was led like a sheep to slaughter, and, like a lamb that the shearer has
taken in hand, He closed his mouth against every complaint when the
Jews judged Him in Jerusalem.”
[805] ‘In Jerusalem my Love was slain and torn on the cross by wicked
ruffians; most willing to bear all our sorrows, he took our grievous
troubles on Himself; His face, that was so lovely to look at, was scourged
with blows. He who Himself never had any [sin] about Him set Himself
at nought for sin; for us He let Himself be scourged and bowed, and
stretched on a crude beam; as meek as a lamb that uttered no complaint
He died for us in Jerusalem.
[817] ‘In Jerusalem, Jordan, and Galilee, where the good St John
baptized, his words accorded with Isaiah. When Jesus came towards him,
he declared this prophecy about Him: “Behold the Lamb of God as
trustworthy as rock, who puts an end to the heavy sins that all this world
has committed. He never yet committed one Himself, yet He daubed
them all on Himself. Who can recount the ancestry of Him who died for
us in Jerusalem?”
[829] ‘Thus in Jerusalem my sweet Love was twice recognized as a

lamb there, according to the true record of both prophets, because of
His meek nature and all His bearing. The third time, written clearly in
the Apocalypse, agrees well with the others: in the midst of the throne,
where the saints sat, the Apostle John saw Him as plainly as possible,
opening the book with square leaves where seven seals were attached to
the border. At that sight every host bowed down, in hell, in earth, and
[in] Jerusalem.
XV
[841] ‘This Lamb of Jerusalem never had any contamination of any

colour but lovely white that no spot or blemish could cling to, so luxuriant
and abundant was the white wool. Therefore every soul that never had
a stain is an honoured wife to that Lamb. And though He may fetch a
supply each day, neither wrangling nor strife comes among us, but we
would wish that every single one were five – the more the merrier, God
bless me! Our love flourishes in a great company, in honour increased
and never diminished.
[853] ‘No one can lessen the bliss of us who wear this pearl upon our
breast, for they that bear the crest of spotless pearls could never think of
dispute. Although our bodies waste away in the earth, and you cry out
endlessly in grief, we have complete understanding; our hope is entirely
derived from one death. The Lamb makes us glad; our sorrow is cast out;
He gladdens us all at every meal. Everyone’s bliss is intense and perfect,
and no one’s honour is ever the less.
[865] ‘In case you should think my wonderful story false, in the Apocalypse
[it] is written in a passage: “I saw,” says John, “the Lamb, most fair and
noble, stand on the mount of Sion, and with Him a hundred thousand
virgins and forty-four thousand more. I noticed the Lamb’s name written
on all their foreheads, and also His Father’s [name]. Then I heard a
shout from heaven, like the sounds of many waters gathered in a rushing
torrent; and as thunder rolls among dark thunder clouds – that sound, I
believe, was just as loud.
[877] ‘“Nevertheless, though it rang out piercingly, and though they

were loud voices, I heard them utter a quite new sound, that it was
most pleasant to hear. They sang that new song very clearly, like harpers
harping on their harps, a noble discourse in sonorous notes; the melodies
they sang together were most beautiful. Right in front of God’s throne
and the four beasts that do obeisance to Him and the elders so grave of
face, they kept up their singing continuously.
[889] ‘“Nevertheless, no one was ever so skilful, for all the arts that
they ever knew, as to be able to sing a strain of that song, except for
the company that follow the Lamb; for they have been redeemed, far
removed from the earth, as first fruits due to God, and are united with
the noble Lamb, being similar to Him in speech and colour. Because
no constraint ever made a lie or untrue words touch their tongue, that
spotless company can never leave that flawless master at all.”’
[901] ‘Let my thanks be no less [i.e. do not think I am any the less
grateful],’ I said, ‘if I interrogate my pearl; I should not so presumptuously
test the wisdom of you who are chosen for Christ’s bridal-chamber. I am
only filth and dust mingled together, and you are so exquisite a fresh rose,
and live here by this pleasant bank where delight in life can never fade.
Now, gracious lady, in whom sincerity dwells [lit. who contains simplicity],
I want to ask you something explicitly, and though I am rough as a
peasant, let my request prevail nevertheless.
XVI
[913] ‘Nevertheless, beautiful maiden, I call on you if you can see that
it may be possible: as you are glorious and without impurity, do not
reject my piteous prayer. Have you no dwelling-place with castle-wall, no

manor where you are able to live together? You tell me of Jerusalem the
royal kingdom where noble David was set on the throne, but it cannot
be situated near these woods, for that noble place is in Judea. As you are
completely flawless [lit. flawless under the moon], your dwelling-places
should be without stain.
[925] ‘This spotless company you tell me of – such a great company of

thousands in a throng – there are so many of you that you must have
a great city, without doubt. It would be a bad thing if so beautiful a
company of lovely jewels had to sleep out of doors, but by these slopes
where I have lingered I see no building anywhere about. I think you
[have] come down here and tarry on your own to look on the splendour
of this lovely stream. If you have strong buildings elsewhere, direct me
now to that fair walled city.’
[937] ‘That city you refer to in the land of Judea,’ that precious creature
then said to me, ‘that is the city that the Lamb sought out in which to
suffer pain for mankind’s sake, that is to say the old Jerusalem, for there
the old guilt was brought to an end. But the new, which descended by
God’s embassy, the apostle gave an account of in the Apocalypse. There
the Lamb without black spots has brought His fair company; and as His
company is without blemish, so is His city without stain.
[949] ‘To speak plainly of two cities, both nevertheless called Jerusalem
– that means no more to you than “city of God” or “vision of peace”
– in the one our peace was made certain: the Lamb chose it to suffer
pain in; in the other there is only peace to be gleaned, which will last
for ever without end. That is the city to which we speed after our flesh
is laid to rot, where glory and bliss shall ever increase for the company
that is without stain.’
[961] ‘Spotless maiden so meek and mild,’ I said then to that lovely flower,
‘bring me to that pleasant dwelling and let me see your joyful home.’ That
bright maiden said: ‘God will forbid that; you may not enter within His
stronghold; but I have obtained permission from the Lamb, through [His]
great favour, for [you to have] a sight of it. You may see that pure city
from the outside, but not a foot from within; you have no power to make
your way into the street, unless you were pure, without stain.’
XVII
[973] ‘If I am to reveal this city to you, go up towards the head of this
stream, and I shall follow opposite you on this side, until you are brought
to a hill.’ Then I did not want to wait any longer, but passed under boughs
so beautifully leaved until on a hill I caught sight of the city and, as I
made my way onwards, gazed at it, situated beyond the brook, at some
distance from me, shining brighter than the sun with beams of light. The
form of it is shown in the Apocalypse, as the apostle John describes it.
[985] Just as John the apostle saw it clearly, I saw that city of great
renown, Jerusalem so new and royally adorned, as though it had come
down from heaven. The city was all of bright refined gold, burnished
bright like gleaming glass, set beneath with noble gems, with twelve tiers
fixed on the base, the twelve layers of the foundation admirably joined;
each tier was a different stone, as the apostle John splendidly describes
this same city in the Apocalypse.
[997] As John names these stones in scripture, I knew the names from his
account. The first gem that I perceived in the first course is called jasper
– it gleamed green in the lowest step. Sapphire occupied the second place;
then the calcedony without blemish clearly showed pale in the third tier;
the fourth was the emerald with surface so green; the fifth stone was the
sardonyx; the sixth was the ruby. The apostle John perceived it in the
Apocalypse.
[1009] John added moreover the chrysolite, the seventh gem in the
foundation; the eighth was the beryl clear and white; the two-coloured
topaz was set as the ninth; the chrysoprase is fastened as the tenth; the
noble jacinth the eleventh; the twelfth, the most trustworthy in any
situation, was the amethyst, purple blended with indigo. The wall set
above the tiers was of jasper that shone glistening like glass. I knew it
from the description of the apostle John in the Apocalypse.
[1021] As John described, I further saw there that these twelve steps were
broad and steep; above stood the city, perfectly square, most beautiful,
and equal in length, breadth, and height. The streets of gold were as clear
as glass, and the wall of jasper shone like egg-white. The walls inside were
adorned with all kinds of precious stones that could be present. Each
square side of this manor comprised a distance of twelve furlongs in
height, width, and length from end to end [lit. to traverse before it came
to an end], for the apostle John saw the measurement of it.
XVIII
[1033] I saw still more of what John describes: each side of that palace
had three gates, so in the enclosing wall I caught sight of twelve, the
portals adorned with rich [metal] plates, and each gate with a pearl,
a perfect pearl that never fades. To each one in written characters was
joined a name of the children of Israel, following their dates, that is
to say, according to their dates of birth; the older before the younger
throughout. There shone such light in all the streets that they needed
neither sun nor moon.
[1045] They had no need of sun nor moon; God Himself was their
lamplight, the Lamb their lantern, without doubt; because of Him the
city shone brightly. Through wall and dwelling my gaze passed; because
[all was] transparent and clear, nothing obstructed the sight. You could
observe the high throne there, arrayed about with all the ornamentation,
as John the apostle expressly set forth. The supreme God Himself sat
upon it. Directly out of the throne ran a river brighter than both the sun
and moon.
[1057] Neither sun nor moon ever shone so sweetly as that copious
river [flowing] out of that city; it surged swiftly through every street,
without filth or impurity or slime. There was, moreover, no church in that
place, neither chapel nor temple was ever built; the Almighty was their
appropriate cathedral, the Lamb the sacrifice there as nourishment. The
gates were never yet shut, but were always open at every roadway; no one
enters there to take refuge who bears any blemish under the moon.
[1069] The moon can acquire no power from there; she is too spotty,
her body too ugly, and also it is never night there. Why should the moon
climb a circuit there and vie with that glorious light which shines on the
surface of the river? The planets are in too wretched a condition, and the
sun itself far too dim. Around the water are bright trees that bear twelve
fruits of life in quick succession; twelve times a year they bear [fruit] most
richly, and renew afresh every month.
[1081] No human heart on earth could endure so great a wonder as

when I gazed upon that stronghold, the form of it was so wonderful. I
stood as still as a dazed quail in amazement at that bright image, so that
I felt neither rest nor toil, I was so enraptured by that pure radiance. For
I dare say with firm conviction, had a man endured that favour in the
body, even if all the physicians were to have him in [their] care, his life
would be lost under the moon.
XIX
[1093] Just as the radiant moon rises before the sun [lit. light of day]
quite sinks away, suddenly in a wonderful manner I was aware of a
procession. This noble city of glorious renown was suddenly, without
Pearl lines [1099–1147] 25
summons, full of similar virgins in the same dress as my blissful crowned

one. And they were all crowned in the same manner, adorned in pearls
and white clothing; on the breast of each one the blissful pearl was
fastened joyfully in place.
[1105] With great joy they went together along golden streets that shone
like glass; I know there were one hundred thousand, and their garments all
matched. It was hard to know [which was] the happiest face. The Lamb
with seven horns of bright red gold went proudly in front; his clothing
was like prized pearls. They made their way towards the throne. Though
they were many, there was no crowding in their array [i.e. grouping], but
mild as modest maidens at mass, so they went forth with great joy.
[1117] It would be impossible to describe the delight His coming brought.

The elders fell prostrate at His feet when He approached. Legions of
angels, summoned together, cast sweet smelling incense; then praise and
joy was expressed once more; all sang in praise of that lovely Jewel. The
sound that the virtues of heaven uttered in their joy could strike through
the earth to hell. Indeed I conceived a great desire to praise the Lamb
amongst His followers.
[1129] Delight in gazing upon the Lamb went with much wonder in
[my] mind. He was the noblest, the gentlest, and the worthiest that I ever
heard tell of; His clothes were so splendidly white, His looks innocent,
He Himself so courteous. But a wound very wide and wet [with blood]
was visible near his heart, through the lacerated skin. His blood gushed
out from his white side. Alas, I thought, who did that malicious deed?
Any heart ought to have burned up for sorrow before it had any desire
for that.
[1141] No one would see fit to doubt the delight of the Lamb; though He
was injured and had a wound, [it] was never visible in His demeanour,
His glances were so gloriously happy. I looked among His bright company
[to see] how they were laden and filled with life; then I saw there my
little queen who I thought had stood beside me in the valley. Lord, how
happily she behaved, she who was so pure, among her companions! That
sight caused me to resolve to wade [across] for love-longing in [my] great
desire.
XX
[1153] Desire poured into me through eye and ear, dissolving my human
mind to madness; when I saw my gracious one, I wanted to be there,
though she was set beyond the water. I thought that nothing could harm
me by dealing me a blow and offering obstruction to me, and that no one
was going to restrain me from plunging into the stream, and swimming
the remainder, even if I died there. But I was shaken from that purpose;
when I was about to jump wildly into the stream, I was summoned out
of that intention: it was not to my Prince’s satisfaction.
[1165] It did not please Him that I rushed over the miraculous waters
like that, in such a state of frenzy. Though I was rash and impetuous to
rush headlong, I was quickly restrained in that course, for just as I sprang
to the bank, that impetuosity jerked me out of my dream. Then I woke
in that fertile garden; my head was laid upon that hill where my pearl
slipped away into the earth. I stretched, and fell into great dismay, and,
sighing, said to myself: ‘Now may all be to that Prince’s satisfaction.’
[1177] It pleased me very ill to be driven so suddenly out of that lovely

country, away from all those sights so vivid and pleasing. A grievous
longing struck me down in a swoon, and sorrowfully I began to lament:
‘O pearl,’ I said, ‘of glorious honour, what you said to me in this true
vision was so precious! If it is a true and real account that you go thus in
your bright garland [i.e. crown], then it is well for me in this dungeon of
sorrow that you are to that Prince’s pleasure.’
Pearl lines [1189–1212] 27
[1189] If I had all the time submitted to that Prince’s pleasure, and
yearned for no more than was allowed me, and been content with that in
true resolve, as the pearl that was so fair had begged me, quite probably,
drawn into God’s presence, I would have been brought to more of His
mysteries. But people always want to receive more good fortune than
could belong to them by right; therefore my joy was quickly shattered,
and I cast out of the everlasting regions. Lord, those who strive against
You are mad, or who propose anything against Your pleasure.
[1201] To please the Prince or be reconciled [to Him] is very easy to

the good Christian; for I have found Him, both day and night [i.e. at
all times], a God, a Lord, an entirely perfect friend. On this mound this
happened to me [lit. I received this chance], lying prostrate for sorrow for
my pearl, which I afterwards committed to God, with my own [blessing]
and the precious blessing of Christ, whom the priest shows us every day
in the form of bread and wine. May He grant us all to be humble servants
and precious pearls to His pleasure.
Cleanness
Whoever were to commend cleanness fittingly, and reckon up all the

arguments that she demands by right, lovely examples would he be able
to find in support of his discourse, and in the contrary enormous trouble
and difficulty. For the Being who created all things is exceedingly angry
with the man who follows after him in filth – such as men of religion
who read and sing the service, and approach His presence, and are called
priests; they go to His temple and are bound to Him, righteously with
reverence they arrange His altar: there they handle His own body and
partake of it as well. [12] If they are enclosed in cleanness they obtain
a great reward; but if they feign wisdom and lack courtesy, by being
pure on the outside and all filth within, then they are sinful themselves
and altogether defile both God and His utensils, and drive Him to
wrath. The King who rules everything is so clean in His court and pure
in His household, and fittingly served by angels in very bright clothes,
surrounded by all that is clean, both within and without; if He were
not scrupulous and fastidious, and loved no evil, it would be too great a
marvel – it could not happen.
[23] Christ Himself once made it known in a speech, in which He
extolled eight beatitudes and promised to them [i.e. the blessed] their
rewards. I am thinking of one among them, as Matthew records, which
discloses a clear statement about cleanness in this way: ‘It turns out very
well for the man with a clean heart, for he shall look on our Lord with a
loved face’ – which is to say that anyone who is wearing any uncleanness
anywhere about him shall never come to that sight; for He who banishes
all filth from His heart cannot endure the shock of its approaching
Him. [33] Therefore do not hurry to heaven in ragged clothes, nor
in the hood of a beggar and with hands unwashed. For what earthly
man who possesses high rank would be pleased if, when he was placed
ceremoniously in a splendid throne, above dukes on the dais, served with
30 Cleanness lines [38–82]
delicacies, a fellow came meanly dressed? [39] If the villain came hastily
to the table then, with leggings torn at the knee and his patched rags, and
his smock ragged and his shoes out at the toes, or any one of these, he
would be put outside, with many great reproaches, perhaps a blow, hurled
to the hall door and shoved out violently, and be forbidden to come to
that castle ever again, on pain of imprisonment and being put in the
stocks; and he will be punished in this way for his mean clothing, though
he never transgress further in word or in deed.
[49] And if he would be unwelcome to an earthly prince, the high
King in heaven is even harder to him; as Matthew tells in his gospel
read at mass of that rich man who made the great banquet for the
marriage of his beloved heir, and sent his message to say that they
should assemble, and come to his feast in fine clothes: ‘For my bulls and
my boars are fattened and killed, and my fowls fed and plumped up in
readiness for slaughter, my pen-fed poultry and partridges as well, with
slabs of wild boar, swans and cranes, all are cooked and roasted ready
for the sitting; come quickly to my court, before it gets cold.’ [61] When
those who were to come there heard his invitation, each excused himself
with whatever reason he could escape by. One had bought himself an
estate, he said, on his honour: ‘Now I am going there as soon as possible
to see the homestead.’ Another also refused and declared this reason: ‘I
have wished for and obtained yokes of oxen, and bought them for my
servants; I need to go: I am obliged to approach and see them pull the
plough.’ ‘And I have married a wife’ – this was how the third excused
himself – ‘excuse me at court: I cannot come there.’ [71] Thus they held
back with insolence, each one, so that no one went to the house though
he was invited. Then the lord of the people was very ill pleased, and
felt indignation about that behaviour; he speaks very seriously. He says:
‘Now it will be to their own sorrow that they have refused; their misdeed
is more blameworthy than any heathen perversity. [77] So go forth, my
men, into the main streets, and waylay, on every side of the city, the
travellers, on foot and on horse, both men and women, the richer and
the poorer; invite them all courteously to stay at my feast, and bring
them gladly to town as though they were barons, so that every part of
Cleanness lines [83–126] 31
my palace may be absolutely full; these other wretches indeed were not
worthy.’ Then those that guarded the region went out and came back,
brought with them young men that they met along the way, squires who
went swiftly on horses, and also many on foot, freemen and serfs. [89]
When they came to the court they were well looked after, given places
by the steward, set in the hall, by the marshall very courteously made to
sit, the seat of each assigned according to his rank. Then afterwards men
said to the lord: ‘Lo! lord, by your leave, at your sovereign command and
order we have brought, as you have bidden, many strangers, and yet there
is more room.’ [97] The lord said to those men: ‘Seek still further; go
out into the fields and fetch more guests; search gorse-heaths and woods
to see if any men lie there; whatever kind of people are travelling there,
bring them here; whether they are proud or mean, do not overlook any
– whether they are sound or lame or one-eyed, even if they are both
blind and stumbling cripples – so that my house may be filled right to
the corners. For, indeed, these same men who have refused me and have
not recognised my status at this time, shall never sit in my room to taste
my supper, nor eat one mouthful from my stew, even though they should
die.’ [109] Then, at those words, the servants hastened out and did the
work, making proclamation as he had ordered it, and filled the palace
with people of all conditions; they were not all the sons of one woman,
begotten by one father. Whether they were respectable or inferior, they
were all well placed, always the highest in rank and the most splendidly
attired in the forefront, the noblest, who were dressed most brilliantly, at
the high table, and then, down the length of the hall, people in plenty.
And throughout people were honoured individually at their meal by the
marshall, in accordance with the appearance of their dress. Fine men
were little neglected in that company, and yet the most humble person in
that room was fully served, both with honour and with food and excellent
minstrelsy, and all the amusements in the world that a lord should show.
And they, having good drink, began to be glad, and each man made
himself at ease with his companion.
[125] Now in the middle of the meal the master decided that he
wished to see the company that was assembled there, and courteously
show friendliness toward the rich and the poor, and welcome them all
with his demeanour, and kindle their joy. Then he goes from his private
room into the great hall, and to the noblest at the table, and bade them
be merry, cheered them with his friendly welcome, and passed further,
went from table to table and talked all the time about pleasant subjects.
But as he went across the floor, he noticed a fellow crowded in the throng
improperly clothed, not dressed fittingly for a festival, in a garment not
befitting a feast, but soiled with labour: the man was not properly dressed
to associate with worthy men. And the great lord became angry about
that, and decided to punish him. [139] ‘Tell me, friend,’ said the man
with a stern expression, ‘how did you come into this dwelling in such dirty
clothes? The clothing that you have on does not honour a festival: you,
man, are not dressed in clothes for a wedding-feast. How were you bold
enough to approach this house, to your misfortune, in a robe so ragged
and torn at the sides? You are a vile man in that mean gown; you valued
me and my house very poorly and in a very niggardly manner, that you
were so prompt to approach my presence here. Do you think that I am a
beggar who would approve of your cloak?’ The other man was abashed
at his angry words, and hangs his head: he looks at the ground. [151] He
was so out of his mind with confusion lest he should suffer that he did not
know one word that he should utter. Then the lord spoke and called out
exceedingly loudly, and said to his torturers: ‘Take him,’ he orders, ‘bind
both his hands behind his back, and immediately fasten cruel fetters to
his feet; fasten him firmly in the stocks, and then shut him up deep in my
dungeon where sorrow ever dwells – grieving and weeping and gnashing
of teeth bitterly together – to teach him to be respectful.’
[161] Thus Christ compares the kingdom of heaven to this noble
feast to which many are called; for all, the worse and the better, who
were ever baptized in the font, are graciously invited to partake of that
feast. But be careful, if- you will, that your clothes are clean and seemly
for the festival, lest you suffer harm, for if you approach that Prince of
noble lineage, He hates hell no more than those who are unclean. What
then are your clothes in which you wrap yourself, which must appear
like lovely garments of the best? [171] They are your deeds, surely, that
you have done, and lined with the inclination that lay in your heart;
endeavour that those be beautiful and fresh during your lifetime, and
well-proportioned in a fine fashion for foot and for hand, and then all
your other limbs wrapped most cleanly; then you may see your Saviour
and His noble throne. A man may forfeit his bliss, so that he does not
see the Sovereign, for more faults than sloth alone; as with arrogance
and boasting and swelling pride, violently into the devil’s throat one
rushes immediately. [181] For avarice and malice and crooked deeds, for
perjury and manslaughter and too much drink, for theft and for strife, one
may have disfavour; for robbery and debauchery and untrue speech, and
disinheriting and depriving widows of dowries, for spoiling of marriages
and supporting of villains, for treason and treachery and tyranny also,
and for false defamations and spurious laws; for such vices as these, one
may fail to obtain the joy that is highly valued, and endure much pain,
and never come into the Creator’s court, and never set eyes on Him for
such bitter deeds. [193] But I have listened to and heard from many
excellent scholars, and also read it myself in discourses of morality, that
the same noble Prince who rules Paradise is displeased at everything that
tends to sin; but I never yet heard it declared in any book that He ever
punished so fiercely any work that He made, nor took vengeance for any
vileness of vice or sin, nor was so quickly fierce because of anger in His
mind, nor ever so suddenly sought to take harsh vengeance, as He did for
filth of the flesh that fools have practised; for, as I find, there He forgot
all His gracious virtues, and grew furious for vengeance as a result of the
anger in His heart.
[205] For the false fiend committed the first crime while he was raised
aloft high in heaven, designed to be the fairest of all the noble angels; and
he made a recompense unnaturally, like a churl. He saw nothing except
how handsome he was himself, but renounced his Sovereign and said
these words: ‘I shall set up my throne in the north, and be similar to that
Lord who made the sky.’ As he spoke these words, vengeance descended
on him: God drove him to the abyss with His severe judgement, his
punishment nevertheless [given] in the moderation of His nature. Yet
He lost the tenth part of His noble entourage on that occasion: though
the wretch was so proud on account of his fine clothes and his glorious
radiance that shone so bright, as soon as God’s judgement came to him,
dense thousands fell violently out of heaven. [221] Fiends black all over
fell from heaven, whirled at the first blow like thick snow, hurled into the
pit of hell as the hive swarms. The fiendish folk clung together for the
duration of forty days, before that stinging storm would cease; but as
sieved meal smokes thickly under a fine sieve, so that vile shower stretched
from heaven to hell on each side of the world, everywhere alike. Yes
indeed, it was a terrible outrage and a supreme vengeance, and yet God
was not enraged; nor did the wretch make peace, nor ever would, for
wilfulness, acknowledge his worthy God, nor pray Him for pity, so proud
was his will. Therefore though the blow was severe, the remorse was
slight; though he is cast into sorrow, he behaves no better.
[235] But the second vengeance that occurred fell on people through
the misdeed of a man who failed in loyalty – Adam the disobedient,
ordained to bliss. His place was ordained apart there in paradise, to live
there in pleasure for the duration of a period, and then inherit the home
that the angels forfeited; but through the urging of Eve he ate from
an apple that poisoned all the people who descended from them both,
because of a prohibition which was decreed by the Lord Himself, and a
punishment assigned to it and openly kept. The prohibited thing was the
fruit that the man touched, and the judgement is the death that slays us
all; the vengeance was carried out all in moderation and mildness, and
afterwards remedied by a virgin who never had an equal.
[249] But in the third [vengeance] all that ought to flourish was
destroyed: there merciless anger and great displeasure was shown, which
was because of the uncleanness practised on earth by the people who
then lived without any masters in the world. They were the most beautiful
of figure and also of face, the biggest and the most graceful that were
ever created, the strongest, the mightiest that ever stood on feet, and the
longest life given to them of all people. For they were the first offspring
that the earth bred, the sons of the noble ancestor who was called Adam,
to whom God had given everything that was good – all the innocent bliss
that a person might have; and those who lived immediately after were
most like the man [i.e. Adam]; therefore since then none have been so
beautiful to look at. [263] No law was imposed on them but to look to
nature, and keep to it, and chastely fulfill all its course. And then they
discovered filth in fleshly deeds, and contrived immoral acts against
nature, and practised them improperly upon one another, and also with
others, deliberately, in a perverted manner: they defiled their flesh so
greatly that the devils saw how the daughters of mankind were extremely
fair, and coupled with them in the manner of humans, and begot giants
on them with their evil tricks. [273] Those were intemperate and mighty
men upon earth, who were renowned for their loathsome practices; he
who loved fighting best was famed for being honourable, and always the
one who did the greatest harm was considered the noblest. And then
evils increased seriously on earth and multiplied many times among
mankind, because the mighty on earth so corrupt the others that the
Being who created everything begins [to act] very angrily. [281] When
He knew every country was corrupt in itself, and every man had strayed
from the right ways, cruel afflicting anger touched His heart. Like a man
sorrowful within, He said to Himself: ‘It grieves me greatly that I ever
made mankind, but I shall destroy and do away with those on this earth
who behave foolishly, and drive out of the world everything clothed in
flesh, from man to beast, from birds to fishes; all that I ever put a soul in
shall be down and dead and driven out of the earth; and I sorely regret
that I Myself ever made them; but if I can, from now on, I shall make
sure to be careful that I take note of their deceitful deeds.’
[293] There was then a man living in the world, most obedient and
righteous, and conducted himself fitly; in the fear of God he spends his
days, and always walking with his God, his grace was the greater. His
name was Noah, as is very well known. He had three fine sons, and they
had three wives: Shem truly was one, the second was called Ham, and
the third born was worthy Japhet. [301] Now God spoke wild vengeful
words to Noah in vexation, grieved in His mind: ‘The end of all kinds
of flesh that moves on earth has presented itself to me, and I intend to
carry it out. I am sickened inwardly by their shameful practice; the filth
of it has grieved Me and the slime troubled Me. I shall put forth My
power, and destroy everything together, both people and land and all
that has life. But make a dwelling place for yourself, that is My will, an
enclosed vessel of planks, neatly planed. [311] Construct stalls therein
for the wild and the tame, and then plaster it with clay fittingly within,
and outside daub all the hammered jointing. And make that vessel of
this length and breadth: keep to three hundred cubits for the length,
and make the breadth precisely fifty across; and see that your ark has
exactly thirty in height, and a wide-opening window constructed above,
the measure of a cubit square exactly; a well fitting door, made in the
side; have halls inside and lots of recesses, both stalls and compartments
and well fastened pens. [323] For I shall rouse up a flood to wash all the
world, and kill everything that is alive with surging waters, all that glides
and walks and has the breath of life: I shall destroy with My anger all
that lives upon earth. But I confirm My covenant with you in this manner,
because you have ruled in wisdom and have always been righteous: you
shall enter this ark with your noble children and your wedded wife; you
shall take with you the wives of your fine sons; I shall save this household
of eight from all human souls, and destroy those others. [333] Provide
yourself with a pair of every animal that bears life, enclose seven couples
of each comely species, keep only a pair of each unclean species in the
ark, in order to preserve for Me the seed of all the various species. And
always mingle corresponding female animals with the males, each pair by
pair, to please each other; supply your chest with all the food that can be
found, as sustenance for yourself and also those others.’ This good man
goes very promptly and does God’s bidding, in great dread and fear, not
daring to do otherwise.
[343] When it was prepared and constructed and fully made ready,
then God solemnly uttered these words to him. ‘Now Noah,’ said Our
Lord, ‘are you all ready? Have you caulked your vessel all over with clay?’
‘Yes, Lord, by Your leave,’ said the man then, ‘all is done according to
Your instructions, as You granted me wisdom.’ ‘Enter in, then,’ said He,
‘and have your wife with you, your three sons, without dispute, and their
three wives; also, as I have ordered, bring beasts in there, and when you
are lodged shut yourselves up in there securely. [353] When seven days
have passed I shall swiftly send forth such a rushing tempest of heavy
rain, which will wash all deeds of filth from the world; no flesh shall be
found alive on earth, except you eight stowed in this ark and the seed that
I will save of these various animals.’ Now Noah never stops – he begins
that night – until all were stowed and enclosed in accordance with the
command.
[361] Then soon came the seventh day, when all were assembled, and
all remained in the ark, the wild and the tame. Then the abyss swelled,
and banks of water arose, every spring pours forth in raging streams; soon
there was no bank that remained unbreached; the great flowing flood rose
up to the sky. Many a clustered cloud split all in shreds; every rain-rift
tore open and rain rushed to the earth, never ceased in forty days. And
then the flood rises, overflows every wood and the wide fields. For when
the water from the sky met the earth, all that were mortal drowned in
it. [373] There was cause for lamentation when the calamity was known
– that there was no help for it but to die in the deep streams; the water
grew ever more powerful, destroying homes, rushed into every house,
seized those who lived there. First, all who could flee took to flight; each
woman with her child leaves the house and went to the high ridges where
it was steepest, and quickly they hastened to the high hills. [381] But their
efforts were all in vain, for the wild raining tempest, the sweeping waves,
never ceased until every valley was brimful to the edges of the hills, and
every valley so deep with water that it was filled to the brink. The greatest
mountains on earth were then no longer dry, and people flocked there
for fear of the retribution. Then the wild animals of the wood floated on
the water; some swam on it, hoping to save themselves; some climbed to
a high place and stared at the heavens, roared pitifully for dread with a
loud clamour. [391] Hares, and also harts, run to the high ground; bucks,
badgers, and bulls hurried to the ridges; and all cried out in distress to the
King of heaven, each one of them cried out for rescue from the Creator,
so that the confusion signified that His mercy has passed, and all His
pity departed from the people that He hated. By the time the flood had
increased and flowed as high as their feet, then every man saw clearly that
he must drown. Friends came together and embraced each other, to suffer
their sorrowful fate and all die together; love looks at loved one and takes
his leave, to end all at the same time and part for ever.
[403] By the time forty days were ended, no flesh stirred on earth
which the flood had not entirely devoured with contending waves; for
it climbed every cliff, fifteen cubits over the highest hill that cowered on
the earth. Then all that the breath of life sprang into must needs rot in
the mud – no struggling availed – except for the man on board ship and
his strange company, Noah who often called the name of our Lord, he
and the seven others in the ark, where everyone stayed dry in the vessel,
as it pleased glorious God. [413] The ark was lifted on high by rushing
currents, thrown to strange regions very near the clouds. It rolled on the
wild water, went as it pleased, hurtled on the deep flood, apparently in
danger, without mast, or crutch, or fine bowline, cable, or capstan to
fasten her anchors to, rudder-band, or helm fastened to the rudder, or any
driving sail to seek after the haven, but floated onward with the strife of
the fierce winds. Wherever the water surged it (the ark) rebounded; often
it rolled around and reared on end; if our Lord had not been their pilot
a hard fate would have befallen them.
[425] To specify an exact point in the length of Noah’s life: [it was] the
six hundredth of his age and no odd years, on precisely the seventeenth
day of the second month, that all these springs burst forth and the water
flowed, and the flood [lasted] thrice fifty days afterwards; every hill there
was hidden by grey waves. Everything that lived in the world, that ever
swam, or flew, or went on foot, was destroyed, so that it was fortunate for
the remnant that the storm drives, that all species, so lodged, were united
within. But when it pleased the Lord of the sky to think of His man who
waits for His mercy, then He wakened a wind to blow on the waters;
then the flood, which had been great before, subsided. Then he closed
up the pools, stopped the wells, commanded the rain to cease: it abated
immediately; then the sea subsided, shrinking in on itself. [442] After a
hundred and fifty hard days had expired, as that heaving vessel moved
heavily about, where the wind and the weather would toss it, it came to
rest on a mild day, sinking to the ground; it rested at last on the ledge of
a rock on the mount of Ararach in the Armenian hills, which in Hebrew
is otherwise called the Thanes. But though the ark remained enclosed by
the crags, the flood did not yet end or sink to the floors of the valleys,
but the highest of the ridges were uncovered a little, so that the man on
board beheld the bare earth.
[452] Then he pushed open his window, and sent out a messenger
from that company to seek lands for them: it was the raven so proud, that
was ever disobedient; he was coloured like coal, unfaithful raven. And he
takes to flight and flutters on the winds, soars on high to hear tidings. He
croaks for pleasure when he finds carrion thrown up on a cliff where the
shores lay dry; he had the smell of the flavour and goes there immediately,
falls on the foul flesh and fills his belly, and at once entirely forgot the
order of yesterday, how the captain who ruled the ark had instructed him.
[465] The raven goes forth, caring very little how all people there fare,
provided that he finds food. But the man on board who awaited his return
cursed him very bitterly together with all other animals. He seeks another
messenger, and chooses the dove, brings that beautiful creature on deck,
blessed her, and said: ‘Go, noble creature, to seek dwellings for us; fly over
this dark water; if you find dry land bring a message to proclaim joy to us
all. [474] Though that bird is false, may you ever be noble.’ She whirled
out on the air on very swift wings, continually throughout the day, not
daring to alight; and when she finds no ground to set her foot on, she
searches around the region and seeks the vessel. She comes down in the
evening and sits on the ark; Noah takes her at once and lodges her well.
[481] On a second day Noah takes the dove once more and asks her to
go over the flood again to search for hills; and she darts about under the
sky and scouts around until it was almost night, and then looks for Noah.
One evening the dove rests on the ark; she stood on the prow and quietly
awaits him. Oh! she brought in her beak a branch of olive, all pleasingly
covered with green leaves; that was the sign of safety which our Lord sent
them, and of the reconciliation of Himself with those harmless beasts.
Then there was joy in that craft where those jumbled together suffered
before, and much relief in the vessel that was daubed with clay.
[493] On a fine morning on the first day in the first month that falls
first in the year, people laughed merrily in that vessel and saw from it
how the waters had ebbed and the world dried. Each one praised our
Lord, but remained always still until they had tidings from the One who
shut them in there. Then God’s voice came to them, gladdening them
all, bade them move to the door: He wished to release them. [501] Then
they went to the door, threw it open at once; both the man and his sons
went outside, their wives walk with them and the wild animals afterwards,
vigorously jostling in a throng, packed very densely. But Noah took out an
odd one of each clean species, and raised up an altar and consecrated it
reverently, and placed a sacrifice on it of each particular species that was
comely and clean: God wishes for no other. When those beasts burned
fiercely, and the smoke rose, the smell of the sacrifice reached right to
Him who quickens and destroys everything; He speaks in gracious solace
very intimate and courteous words to him: [513] ‘Now, Noah, I will never
again curse all the great company on earth because of anyone’s sins, for I
see well that it is true that all people’s minds are turned to wickedness by
the thought of their hearts, and always have been, and will be yet; from
their childhood the minds of people are entirely inclined to wickedness.
Therefore I shall never, during the existence of this earth, punish so
hastily as to destroy everything at once because of mankind’s deeds. [521]
But increase now and go forth and become many, multiply on this earth,
and may honour come to you. Seasons of seed or of harvest shall never
fail you, nor heat, nor hard frost, shade nor drought, nor the sweetness
of summer, nor the gloomy winter, nor the night, nor the day, nor the
new years, but ever continue unceasing: you must rule on earth.’ With
that He blessed each beast and committed this earth to them. [529] Then
there was a wise dispersal, when all the wild animals escaped, each bird
that feathers might serve took to flight, each fish that could use fins to the
water, each animal that feeds on plants to the field; wild snakes wriggle
to their dwelling in the earth, the fox and the polecat turn to the wood,
harts to the high heath, hares to gorse-heaths, and lions and leopards to
lakeside dens, eagles and hawks to the high rocks, the web-footed birds
hasten to the water, and each beast quickly wherever it pleases him best;
the four men take control of the earth.
[541] Lo! the high Father inflicted such bitter suffering on the people
that He made because of loathsome deeds; that which He had dearly

cherished He punished very severely in destroying the evil that overcame
His virtues [i.e. the virtues which He had established]. Therefore take
care now, man who desires honour in the pure court of Him who is King
of bliss, that you are never discovered in the filth of the flesh, so that any
water in the world would fail to wash you. [549] For there is no man
under the sun, however seemly in his deeds, who, if he is defiled in sin,
will sit down unclean; one speck of a blemish will cause him to miss the
sight of the Sovereign who sits so high; so that one shall appear in those
bright dwellings, it is necessary to be pure like the shining beryl, which is
sound on every side and has no flaw – without blemish or stain, like the
pearl. Because it very deeply grieved the Sovereign on His throne that He
had ever placed mankind to live on earth, because he had fallen into filth,
He fiercely took vengeance, when all the flesh that He had made perished.
[561] He regretted that He raised them up and gave them means of life;
and likewise it seemed hard to Him that He destroyed them. For when the
grievous sorrow touched His heart, He courteously established a covenant
with mankind there, in the moderation of His temper and the mildness
of His will, that He should never because of any grief smite everything at
once, so as to kill all living creatures for any evil that might occur, while
the period of the duration of the earth lasts.
[569] That particular judgement never passed His lips on account of
any sin. Yet He took vengeance on wicked men afterwards in an awesome
manner; for that same sin He fiercely destroyed a rich region, in the anger
of His wrath, so that many were afraid; and all was for this same evil, that
accursed filth, the poison and the villainy and the vicious impurity that
defiles man’s soul in his corrupt heart, so that he may not see his Saviour
with the sight of his eyes. He hates all evils like hell that stinks; but none
troubles Him by night or day like impure obscenity, abuse of oneself: he
who is not ashamed for any wickedness, he must be punished.
[581] But perceive, man, in yourself, though you live as a fool, though
you bear yourself foolishly, consider sometime whether He who set the
power of sight in each bright eye – if He was born blind it is a great
wonder; and He who fixed all ears neatly in the face, if He has lost the
power of hearing, it is more than strange: never believe that tale – you
will find it untrue. There is no deed so secret that it closes His eyes; there
is no man so cautious or so secretive in his conduct that it does not rush
swiftly to Him before he has thought it. [591] For He is the searching
God, the ground of all deeds, searching out the sexual and emotional
longings of every man. And where He finds all fair within a man, with
heart honest and sound, he honours that man, sends him a solemn vision:
to see His own face; and severely condemns these others, and drives them
from His dwelling. But as to the judgement of men for deeds of shame
– He has such repugnance of that sin, He is provoked immediately; He
cannot bear to hold back, but strikes quickly: and that was once suddenly
shown by a disaster.
[601] Once old Abraham is sitting in his country, right in front of his
house-door, under a green oak. The light shone brightly from the broad
heavens; Abraham stays in the full heat of it: he had moved aside to the
shadow under the bright leaves. Then he was aware of three fine Men
on the path: if They were handsome and gracious and fair to behold it
is easy to believe from the final outcome. [609] As for the man who lay
under the leaves, when he had sight of Them he hastens immediately,
and the householder goes towards Them as to God and greets Them in
unity, and said: ‘Noble Lord, if ever Your servant deserved reward on
earth, stay a little with Your man, I humbly beseech; if I dare ask for it,
never go from Your poor servant until You have stayed with Your man
and rested under the bough, and I shall quickly get you a little water, and
swiftly set about having your feet washed. Rest here on this root and I
shall go and bring a morsel of bread to comfort Your heart.’ [621] ‘Go
forth,’ said the Men, ‘and bring what you say; we will wait for you here
by the trunk of this great tree.’ Then he quickly hastened into his house
to Sarah, commanded her to be prompt and quick on this occasion: ‘Mix
three measures of meal and make cakes; quickly cover them under hot
ashes; while I fetch something fattened [i.e. ready to kill], you kindle the
fire, promptly to make some broth this very moment.’ He hastened to
his cow-shed and brings a calf, that was tender and not tough, ordered
its hide to be stripped off, and said to his servant that he should boil
it swiftly; and he prepared it quickly at his command. [633] The man

then hastens to be bare-headed, seizes a clean cloth and throws it on the
grass, placed on it in a seemly manner those three unleavened cakes, and
brings butter in addition and sets it by the bread; he places proper dishes
of milk at intervals, then pottage and broth on clean platters. Like a
steward he humbly served whatever he had to Them in a worthy manner,
with a dignified and courteous demeanour; and God, like a happy guest
who was pleased to meet his friend, made merry and praised his feast.
Abraham, all hoodless, with arms extended, served food before those
Men who wield all power.
[645] Then They said as They sat all three together, when the food
was removed and They speak courteously: ‘I shall return here, Abraham,’
They said, ‘once more before your spark of life on earth ceases, and then
Sarah shall conceive and bear a son, who shall be Abraham’s heir and
after him beget with prosperity and honour the noble people who will
hold in heritage what I have granted to men.’ [653] Then the woman
behind the door laughed in scorn; and the mad Sarah said softly to
herself: ‘Can you believe that you may conceive through sexual pleasure?
(And I so long past the age, and my husband also.)’ For certainly, as the
scripture says, they were of advanced age, both the man and his wife:
such activity had ended for them many a long day since; she remaining
barren throughout, that very Sarah, without offspring up to that same
time. [661] Then said our Lord where He sat: ‘See! how Sarah laughs,
not believing the statement that I uttered to you. Does she think that
anything can be difficult for My hands to accomplish? And I still truly
affirm the promise that I made; I shall soon come again and give what I
promised, and truly send to Sarah a son and heir.’ Then Sarah rushed out
and swore on her honour that she had not laughed at the speech They
uttered. ‘Enough now: it is not so,’ the Lord then said, ‘for you laughed
softly, but let us leave it alone.’ [671] With that They stood up quickly, as
if they were about to depart, and immediately turned towards Sodom;
for that city was built nearby in a valley, no more than two miles from
Mamre, where lived this same man, who goes with our Lord in order to
attend Him with conversation and show Him the way.
[677] Then God goes forth; the householder follows Him; Abraham
goes with Them, to conduct Them towards the city of Sodom, which
had then sinned in the misdeed of this impurity. The Father threatens
them, and said thus to the man who followed Him: ‘How should I hide
My heart from Abraham the true, so that I did not disclose to him My
privy purpose, since he is chosen to be the chief father of children, from
whom people will spring so as to fill all the world, and each descendant
shall be blessed because of that man? It behoves Me to tell that man
the anger of My will, and to disclose all My purpose to Abraham
immediately. The disgraceful report of Sodom penetrates My ears, and
the guilt of Gomorrah causes Me to grow angry. [691] I shall go down
to that people and see Myself if they have done as the report rises aloft.
They have learned a practice that pleases me ill, that they have discovered
in their flesh, the worst of misdeeds: each male makes his mate a man
like himself, and they join together foolishly in the manner of a female.
I devised a natural way for them and taught it to them secretly, and
esteemed it in My ordinance singularly precious, and set love within it,
sharing sweetest of all, and I Myself devised the play of lovers, and made
for it a practice most pleasant of all: [702] when two true lovers had
joined themselves together, between a male and his mate such joy should
come, paradise itself might almost prove no better; provided that they
would possess each other in a proper manner, at a quiet secret meeting,
undisturbed by sight, the flame of love would blaze so hot between them
that all the troubles on earth would not be able to quench it. Now they
have changed my decree and scorned nature, and in contempt take for
themselves an unclean custom. I intend to smite them severely for that
filth, so that men will be warned by them, for ever and ever.’
[713] Then Abraham was afraid and his mood changed, in expectation
of the severe hatred that our Lord has promised. All sighing he said:
‘Sir, by Your leave, shall the sinful and the guiltless all suffer the same
punishment? Would it ever please my Lord to decree such judgements
that the wicked and the worthy must suffer the same retribution, and to
weigh on the more wicked side those who never angered You? [720] That
was never the custom of You who made us all. Now if fifty good friends
were found in yonder town, in the city of Sodom and also Gomorrah,
who never sinned against Your law, but always loved truth, and were
righteous and reasonable and ready to serve You, shall they die for the
sin that other men committed, and share in their judgement, to have their
doom? That was never Your custom – let it not be named – who are a
God so gracious and merciful of spirit.’ ‘No, for fifty,’ said the Father, ‘and
your courteous speech, if they should be found in that folk free from their
filth, I shall forgive all the guilt through My grace alone, and let them at
once easily escape altogether unharmed.’ [733] ‘Ah! may You be blessed,’
said the man, ‘so kind and noble, who hold all in Your hand, heaven and
earth; but, since I have begun this speech do not take it ill if I who am
dust and ashes speak a little more. What if five were lacking from the total
of fifty, and the rest were righteous, how does Your will stand?’ ‘If five
are wanting from fifty,’ said God, ‘I shall forget all and withhold My hand
from harming one man.’ ‘And what if forty were noble and the others
guilty: will you directly destroy all and ordain nothing else?’ [743] ‘No, if
forty were to lose their right, yet I would delay for a while, and put aside
My vengeance, even if it should seem repugnant to Me.’ Then Abraham
did obeisance to Him and humbly thanks Him: ‘Now may You be blessed,
Saviour, so guileless in Your anger! I am only most evil earth and ash so
black, to speak with such a Master as has all power. But I have begun [to
speak] with my God, and it seems good to Him; if I, as a fool, go astray,
Your magnanimity will suffice. [751] What if thirty worthy [people] were
to be punished in yonder towns, what shall I believe of my Lord – would
He be merciful to them?’ Then the gracious God gave him answer: ‘Even
for thirty in the throng I shall restrain My anger, and immediately hold
back from wrath in the delay afforded by My noble qualities, and restrain
my wrath because of your noble words.’ ‘What for twenty,’ said the man,
‘would you then destroy them?’ ‘No, if you still desire it, I will grant them
grace; if twenty should be true, I will punish them no more, but release
all the region from their wanton deeds.’ [761] ‘Now, noble Lord,’ said
Abraham, ‘one word more, and I shall endeavour no more to help those
men. If ten citizens faithful in Your works were found, will You moderate
Your anger and await amendment?’ ‘I agree,’ said the great God, ‘many
thanks’ the other; and then the man stopped and went no further. And
God goes on His way by those green paths, and he followed Him with
the glaze of his eye; and as he looked along where our Lord passed, he
still called after Him in an anxious voice: [771] ‘Merciful Master – if
it would please You to remember Your man [i.e. me] – Lot, who is my
beloved brother, lives among that people; he dwells there in Sodom, Your
servant so poor, among those cursed men that have greatly grieved You.
If You destroy that town, temper Your wrath, as Your mercy may soften
it, to spare Your humble servant.’ Then he goes on his way, weeping for
distress, towards the boundary of Mamre, lamenting for sorrow; and
there in anxiety he remains all night in his dwelling, while the Sovereign
sent someone to Sodom to investigate.
[781] His message was sent into Sodom at that time, in the same
evening, by two angels, going modestly together like handsome young
men, as Lot reclined alone at the door of an arbour, in a porch adjoining
the gates of that house, which was splendid and rich as was the man
himself. As he looked into the street where bold men amused themselves,
he saw two fair men walking there together; they were both fine men,
with beardless chins, splendid wavy hair like raw silk, with complexion
like the briar-rose wherever the bare skin showed. [792] The expression
of their clear eyes was very bright; their clothing was pure white and
suited them well. Both were very fine and faultless in all their features;
no feature was unbecoming in either, for they were angels, and the alert
man who sits in the gate understood that; he stood up quickly and ran
to meet them, and he bows low to them, Lot, to the ground, and then
solemnly says: ‘Sirs, I beseech you that you will stop at my house and stay
in it. [801] Come to your servant’s cottage, I ask here and now; I shall
fetch you a tub to wash your feet; I entreat you to stay with me for just
one night, and in the pleasant morning you can go on your way.’ And
they said that they would not come near any house, but quietly there in
the street as they found themselves they would remain through the long
night and stay outside: the heaven on high was house enough for them.
Lot urged them so long with courteous words that they consented to come
with him and no longer refused.
[811] The bold man brings them swiftly to his house, which was
splendidly adorned, for he had always been wealthy. The men were made
welcome as well as the wife was able; his two beloved daughters greeted
them reverently; they were gentle maidens, not yet married, and they
were lovely and sweet, and very well dressed. Lot then swiftly looks about
him and exhorts his men to serve food: ‘But remember that whatever you
make must be unleavened, for you must never serve them with leaven or
with salt.’ [821] But yet I think the woman turned it to defiance, and said
quietly to herself: ‘These disagreeable fellows like no salt in their sauce;
yet it would be unreasonable that anyone else should go without, even
though both of them are fastidious.’ Then she seasons every one of her
broths with salt, against the command of the man who had forbidden it,
and also she treated with contempt those who well perceived her attitude.
Why was she so mad, the wretch? She angered our Lord. Then they sat
at supper, were swiftly served, the guests merry and glad, courteous of
speech, very joyful and cordial, until they had washed, both the trestles
and the table leant against the wall.
[833] After the men had supped and sat but a while, before ever they
went to bed, the town was aroused, everybody who could wield a weapon,
the weaker and the stronger, to surround Lot’s house to take the men. In
great crowds of people they rush to his gates; the shout rose as though
from a terrified watchman; with stout clubs they clatter on the walls
of that enclosure, and with a shrill sharp shout they utter these words:
[841] ‘If you value your life, Lot, in these lands, send out to us those
young men who entered here a while ago, so we can teach them about
love, as our desire prompts, as the custom of Sodom is to men who pass
through.’ Oh! they uttered and spoke of such abominable filth; oh! they
cried out and shouted festering muck, so that the wind and the sky and
the earth still stink from the vomit that those venomous words throw up.
The householder was startled by that din and shocked by the noise; such
sharp shame rushed to him, his heart shrank, for he knew the custom
that those wretches spoke of. [852] He was never so deeply astonished
by grief in his mind. ‘Alas!’ Lot then said, and he quickly rises, and goes
forth from the bench to the great gates. Oh! he feared no harm from
wicked knaves, which would stop him from passing through the gate to
face the danger. He went out at the door and pulled it after him, so that
a latch held it fast behind him. Then he spoke moderate words to those
men, for he hoped to restrain evil men with his courtesy: ‘Oh, my friends
so noble, your behaviour is too strange; stop your loud noise and never
harm my guests. [863] Shame on you! it is a disgrace to you, you demean
yourselves; if you are worthy gentlemen, your antics are evil. But I shall
teach you a better practice, according to nature: I have a treasure in my
house, my two fair daughters, who are maidens undefiled by any man;
in Sodom, though I say it, there are no women more beautiful; they are
full-grown, they are mature and ready to be mastered. The pleasure of
being brought together with those lovely ones is greater. [871] I shall
deliver to you those two who are attractive and beautiful; play with them
as you like, and let my guests alone.’ Then the scoundrels so proud raised
such a noise that their villains’ speech rushed menacingly into his ears:
‘Do you not know well that you live here an outsider, an immigrant, a
knave? We will strike off your head! Who appointed you to be judge to
disparage our pastimes, you who came to this city a churl, though you
are a rich man?’ Thus they jostled and pressed and crowded round his
ears, and would have harrassed him very hard, by force in the throng, but
that the young men, so prompt, ran out, flung open the door and got to
them, and seized him by the hands and hurried him inside, and fastened
the gates firmly with strong bars. [885] The angels blew a tempest among
that cursed people, so that they strayed about, as blind as Bayard ever
was. They failed to find any trace of Lot’s house, but searched blindly
there all night for nothing in the end. Then every man having failed to
obtain his pleasure went on his way, and each one hurried to what rest
he could get; but those who lived in the town were woken quite awry by
the very ugliest calamity ever suffered on earth.
[893] The redness of the first light of day rose in the early morning,
when the darkness of midnight could last no longer. Those angels aroused
this man very early, and made him get up in alarm, in the name of God;
the man jumps up swiftly, very frightened in his heart; they commanded
him to seize what he had quickly, ‘with your wife and your servants and
your lovely daughters, for we urge you, Sir Lot, that you save your life.
[901] Go quickly from this country before you are destroyed, in haste
with all your household, till you find a hill; go quickly on your feet; look
in front of your face, but never be so bold as to look behind you, and
see that you do not delay a step, but press on fast; never rest till you
reach a refuge. For we shall finish and pitilessly destroy this town, swiftly
annihilate it with all these men who are so wicked, and we shall end all
the land with these men at once; Sodom will very suddenly sink into the
ground, and the foundation of Gomorrah shall hurtle into hell, and every
part of this region crash into heaps.’ [913] Then Lot said: ‘Lord, what
is best to do? If I were to conceal myself as far as I could flee on foot,
how should I hide myself from Him who has aroused His wrath in the
ferocity of His breath, which burns all things? I do not know where to
creep away from my Creator, nor whether his enmity will seek me out
before or behind.’ The angel said: ‘Our Father has shown you no enmity,
but greatly raised your welfare over those who are destroyed. [921] Now
choose yourself a dwelling which may protect you, and He who has sent
us here will preserve it for your sake, for you entirely alone are free from
this filth, and also Abraham your uncle asked God Himself for it.’ ‘Lord,
may he be praised on earth!’ said Lot. ‘There is a city near here that is
called Zoar – out here it stands alone on a round hill. I would like, if it
is His will, to escape to that city.’ ‘Then go forth,’ said that noble one,
‘and never stop, with those same people you wish to take, who belong to
you, and always going on your way, without looking back, for all this land
shall be destroyed long before the sun rises.’ [933] The man wakened
his wife and his lovely daughters, and two other excellent men that those
maidens were intended to marry; and they took it as sport and gave it
little attention; though Lot called them earnestly, they lay quite still. The
angels hastened the others and urged them on menacingly, and drove
all four out of the gates: these were Lot and his dear wife and his lovely
daughters; no more reached safety from the five noble cities. These angels
took them by hand out at the gates, declaring the danger to them, and
commanded them to travel fast: ‘Lest you are caught in the sin of evil
men here, see that you obey the command now: go quickly from here!’
And they did not object, but fled quickly. Early, before any light of dawn,
they came to a hill.
[947] Great God on high begins in His wrath to rouse very wild
storms; He calls the winds and they fiercely flew up and wrestled together,
striving loudly from the four quarters of the earth. Clouds clustered at
intervals threw up towering clouds, which the frequent thunder-bolt often
pierced. The rain poured down, thickly sprinkling fierce sparks of fire
and flakes of sulphur, all in stifling smoke smelling very foul, moaned
about Sodom on all sides, struck Gomorroh, so that the ground opened,
Adma and Zeboin, all four of these cities were completely drenched by
the rain, roasted and burned, and the people who dwelt in those cities
greatly terrified. [961] For when Hell heard the hounds of heaven, he
was wonderfully glad, and opened immediately. He broke open the great
barriers of the abyss at once, so that all the region tore asunder in very
great fissures, and the cliffs split everywhere all into little shreds, as leaves
split away from a book that bursts apart. By the time the smoke from the
brimstone had ceased, all those cities and their surroundings sank into hell.
Those great crowds of men within did not know what to do when they
were aware that no one escaped from the vengeance; such a miserable
outcry of yelling rose there, the clouds resounded with it, of which Christ
might have pity. [973] The man who was going to Zoar heard that sound,
and the girls with him who accompanied him on the way; they were [lit.
their flesh was] terribly frightened as they continued to flee, going all the
time at a quick run, and never daring to turn. Lot and those lily-white
ones, his two lovely daughters, went forward [lit. followed their face] all
the time, looking straight; but the wretched woman, who never obeyed a
command, looked behind her back to listen to that calamity. [981] It was
vigorous Lot’s wife who looked once at the city over her left shoulder, but
she waited no longer before she was fixed a rigid stone, a sturdy statue as
salt as any sea – and thus she yet stands. Those who were her companions
slipped by and did not see her until they [had] arrived in Zoar, and
praised our Lord; with eager hands uplifted they devoutly praised Him,
who was thus willing to look after and save His servants from such harm.
Everything was stifled and ruined and drowned by then; the people of
that little town had run out for fear into that bewildering sea, [and were]
quickly destroyed, so that nothing was saved but Zoar, that was set on a
hill. [993] The three people dwelt there, Lot and his daughters; for his
wife was lost, who remained on the mountain, in a stone statue that tastes
of salt, for two misdeeds in which the fool was found unfaithful: one, she
served salt before God at the supper, and afterwards she looked behind
her, though she was forbidden; for the one she stands a stone, and salt for
the other, and all the beasts of the field like to lick her.
[1001] Abraham, who all night had endured much trouble in his
heart, and all in anxiety for Lot lay in a state of wakefulness, was up
very early the next day; he made his way up where he had left our Lord;
he turned his eyes towards Sodom, that had always been the sweetest
region on earth, like a colony of paradise, which God established; now
it is plunged in a pit as if filled with pitch. Such a red smoke [lit. redness
of a smoke] arose from the blackness, ashes and cinders flew up in
the air there, like a cauldron full of scum that boils on a fire when the
bright burning firebrands are kindled under it. [1013] This was a violent
retribution that annihilated these places, which has engulfed so fair a folk
and sunk the land. Where the five cities were built now is called a sea,
which is always turbid and dark, and dead in its nature, livid, bubbling,
and black, dismal to approach; that destroyed sin [is] like a stinking pool,
so that in smell and in taste it is for ever bitter to experience. [1020]
Therefore it is evermore called the dark Dead Sea, for its deeds of death
continue there yet; for it is wide and bottomless, and as bitter as gall,
and no living thing can survive in that lake, and it destroys every one of
the qualities of nature. For lay a lump of lead on it, and it floats on the
surface, and place on it a light feather and it sinks to the bottom; and
where water can flow to wet any earth, nothing green shall ever grow on
it, neither grass nor wood. If any man were pushed into it to be drowned,
though he might remain wretchedly in that deep place for a month, he
must always live in that lake in perdition evermore, and never suffer death
until the last days [i.e. the Last Judgement]. [1033] And since it and also
its shores are cursed in nature, the clay that clings around it consists of
strong corrosives, such as alum and bitumen, which are both sharp, bitter
sulphur and glass-gall, and many other such; and there foams from that
water, in great wax-like curls, the foaming asphalt that spicers sell; and
the soil on all the shores by that sea is such that cruelly devours flesh and
rots bones. [1041] And there are trees by that lake of traitors, and they
bud and bear very lovely blossoms, and the most beautiful fruit that can
grow on earth, such as orange and other fruit and pomegranate, as red
and as ripe and brightly coloured as any judgement might conceive of
any delicacies whatsoever; but when it is bruised or broken, or bitten in
two, [there is] no goodness in the world within, but ashes scattering in
the wind.
All these are signs and tokens to believe in still, and witness to that
wicked conduct, and the retribution that our Father carried out afterwards
because of the filth of those people. [1052] Then every person may well
perceive that He loves pure conduct; and if He who is our noble Lord
loves pure behaviour, and you desire to be known in His court then, to
see that Seemly One on [His] throne and His sweet face, I do not know
any plainer counsel, but that you should be pure. For Clopignel, in the
course of his pure Romance of the Rose, where he sets forth a discourse to
him who wishes to succeed in being loved by a lady, [says]: ‘Look at her
without delay, how she behaves, and what [behaviour] she loves best, and
be just so everywhere in body and deeds, and follow the example [lit.
footsteps] of that mistress you consider noble; and if you behave in this
way, even if she were difficult, she will be pleased by that behaviour which
is like her own.’ [1065] If, then, you wish to exchange love with God,
and loyally love your Lord and become His beloved, then make yourself
clean, and model yourself upon Christ, who is always polished as smooth
as the pearl itself. For, look, from when He first descended within the
faithful maiden, by what a comely contrivance He was enclosed there,
when no virginity was overcome, nor violence done, but her body was
much cleaner, [since] God was conceived in it. [1073] And again when
He was born in Bethlehem the glorious, in what purity they separated;
though they were poor, [there] was never a bedroom so joyful as a cow-
stall was then, nor a vestry so lovely as a cattle-shed was there, nor any
so glad under God as she who should have been groaning. For there the
sickness that is considered the most painful was all well, and there was the
fragrance of the rose where decay has ever been, and there was solace
and song when sorrow has ever cried; for angels with instruments of
organs and pipes, and splendid resounding violins and the lovely fiddle,
and all gracious things that might properly gladden a heart, were present
about my lady when she was to be delivered. [1085] Then was her gentle
Child burnished so clean that both the ox and the ass worshipped Him
at once; they knew Him by His cleanness as King of nature, for none
before then had ever come so cleanly from such an enclosure. And if
He came cleanly thence, most courteous afterwards, so that He who
hated with loathing everything that pertained to evil, by the nobility of
His nurture He would never touch anything that was base or in which
there was filth. [1093] Yet loathsome people came to that Prince, such
as many diseased beggars, some leprous, some lame, and the stumbling
blind, [those] poisoned, and paralytic, and wasted by inflammations,
people with an excess of dry humours, and the dropsical, and finally the
dead, all called on that Courteous One and claimed His grace. He healed
them with gracious speech from what they ask [i.e. from the disease or
disability in question], for whatever He touched immediately turned to
health, far cleaner than any skill could contrive. [1101] His touch was so
gracious that all filth shunned it, and the searching of both God and Man
so good that through the skill of His fingers He never tried to cut or to
carve with knife or with blade; therefore He broke bread without blades,
for indeed it behaved more perfectly in His fair hands, and fell apart more
mysteriously when He wished to part it, than all the blades of Toulouse
might endeavour to cut it.
To that extent is He whose court you seek fastidious and pure: how
should you come to His country unless you were clean? Now each one
of us is diseased and sinful and unclean; then we may say, how should
we see that Lord upon [His] throne? [1113] But yes, that Master is
merciful. Though you may be a sinful man, and all disfigured with mire,
while you live on earth you may shine through confession, though you
have served shame, and purify yourself with penance until you become
a pearl [i.e. achieve salvation]. Pearl is highly valued where jewellery is
displayed, though it is not considered the most valuable to exchange for

money. What reason can be named except for her clean hues, which gain
honour above all white stones? [1121] For she that is round in shape
shines so bright, without fault or filth if she was perfect [to begin with],
and however old she grows in the world through being worn, yet the pearl
does not deteriorate while she remains in esteem; and if it happens by
chance that she is neglected, so that she becomes dim of colour while she
lies in a room, only wash her with reverence in wine as she requires, and
by nature she will become brighter than before. So if anyone is defiled by
an ignoble deed, so that he is polluted in soul, let him go to confession,
and by receiving penance from the priest he can make himself shine
much brighter than the beryl or a string of pearls. [1133] But be very
careful, if you are washed with the water of confession, and polished as
smooth as parchment which has been scraped, [that you] do not defile
your soul in sin any more afterwards, for then you displease the Lord with
grievous deeds, and provoke Him to anger more seriously than ever, and
to hate [you] much more hotly than if you had not washed. For when
a soul is reconciled and consecrated to God, He considers it completely
His and wishes to keep it; when it again tastes vices He loses it with ill
will, as though it were seized wrongfully and stolen by thieves. [1143] Be
prepared for retribution then. His wrath is aroused if that which was once
His becomes unclean again, though it may be [only] a basin, a bowl or
a cup, a dish or a charger, that once served the Lord. He firmly forbids
that it should ever be defiled at all, He who is ever righteous feels such
repugnance at sin.
And that was made apparent in Babylon in Belshazzar’s time, how
severe misfortune seized him there, and very quickly, because he profaned
the vessels that were formerly used in the temple in the service of the
Lord. [1153] If you would grant me an opportunity I should like to tell
it, how the fortune of him who would not take care of them was heavier
than that of his erring father who seized them by force, and robbed the
Jewish religion of all holy objects. Daniel in his discourses explained at
one time – as is , moreover, clearly demonstrated in his prophecies – how
the nobility of the Jews and glorious Jerusalem was destroyed by force,
and laid low. [1161] For those people were found untrue in their faith,
[those] who had promised the supreme God to be faithful to Him for
ever; and He consecrated them as His and helped them in their need in
many great misfortunes, as it would be marvellous to hear. And they erred
from their faith and followed other gods, and wakened His wrath and
forced it so high that He aided those faithful to the false religion to destroy
those false to the true faith. This was seen in the time when Zedechiah
reigned in Judah, which the kings of the Jews ruled. [1171] He sat on
Solomon’s throne in a solemn manner, but he was slow in loyalty to his
gracious Lord: he practised the abominations of idolatry, and despised
the religion to which he owed allegiance. Therefore our Father aroused
an enemy for him in the world: Nebuchadnezzar harmed him greatly.
He made an attack into Palestine with many proud men, and there he
destroyed the village homes with warfare; he ravaged all Israel and took
the nobles prisoner, and besieged the noblest of Judea in Jerusalem,
surrounded all the walls with strong men, [placed] a doughty chieftain
at every door, and shut up those within; for the city was so strongly
fortified [i.e. against attack] with battlements at the top, and packed
with strong men to stop those outside. [1185] Then the siege was placed
around the city, skirmishes sharply launched, much injury suffered; at
each drawbridge a movable tower of the kind mounted on wheels, which
assailed the gates seven times a day; inside the city loyal men fought in
towers, and on strong wooden platforms built on the walls; they fought
and they defended, and struggled together till two years passed by, yet
they never took it. [1193] At long last, food was fast failing the men in
the city and many were starving; the biting hunger within hurt them
much more sorely than any blow from the company of men which waited
outside. Then those crowds in those fine dwellings were without counsel;
from the time that food was lacking, they grew thin, and they were
enclosed so tightly that they could not stray a foot from that fortress to
forage for goods. [1201] Then the king of the country makes a plan with
his nobles, to create a stratagem; they crept out on a quiet night before
any sound arose, and rush hard through the host before the enemies were
aware of it. But before they could elude the watch outside, the alarm
was raised high under the skies; a loud alarm was then sounded on the
field; noblemen, aroused from their rest, ran for their clothes, they seize
helmets and leap on horses; the clear clarion blare resounded on high.
[1211] Then all were rushing fast in a crowd, following the other troop,
and soon found them, swiftly overtook them, knocked them from [their]
saddles, until every prince had put his opponent to the ground. And there
the king was seized by Chaldean princes, and all his nobility overthrown
in combat on the plains of Jericho, and were presented as prisoners to the
most glorious prince, Nebuchadnezzar, noble on his throne; and he [was]
the gladdest man because he had his enemy, and spoke contemptuously
to them, and afterwards killed them. [1221] He slew each of the king’s
sons before his eyes, and cruelly dug out both of his own [i.e. the king’s]
eyes, and ordered the man to be brought to Babylon the glorious, and put
in a dungeon there to suffer his fate.
Now see, this is how the Lord has ordained His retribution: it was not
for Nebuchadnezzar or for his nobility of conduct either that the other
[i.e. Zedechiah] was deprived of [his] pride with severe punishments, but
for his behaviour so wicked towards his kind Lord; for had the Father, who
previously preserved him, been his friend, and had he never trespassed
against Him in the sin of misbelief, all Chaldea and the countries of
India – even include Turkey with them – would have been too lacking
in zeal and would have done little harm. [1233] Yet Nebuchadnezzar
would never leave this business until he had overturned this town and
razed it to the ground. He ordered a noble leader to Jerusalem then – his
name was Nebuzaradan – to harrass the Jews; he was master of his [i.e.
Nebuchadnezzar’s] men and powerful himself, the commander of his [i.e.
Nebuchadnezzar’s] body of knights in carrying out Nebuchadnezzar’s
attacks; he quickly broke the defences, and the fortress afterwards, and
enters very resolutely, with anger in his heart. [1241] Oh! the victory
was poor: the men were away, the nobles gone with the man who ruled
the city, and those who remained were so tormented with dire hunger
that one woman would have been worth the strongest four. Nevertheless,
Nebuzaradan would not hold back, but ordered all to be put to the bare
edge of the sword; they slew the fairest of lovely women, bathed children
in blood and spilled their brains; they crushed priests and prelates to
death, cut open the bellies of wives and girls, so that their bowels burst
out around the ditches, and everyone they could catch was wretchedly
killed. [1253] And all who escaped, unconsumed by the sharp sword,
were bound and tied on horses quite naked, fetters fastened to their feet
under the horses’ bellies, and brought wretchedly to Babylon to suffer
misery there, to sit in servitude and sorrow, who previously were noble.
Now they are changed into churls and burdened with labours, both to
pull the cart and milk the cows, who formerly sat in their hall as lords and
ladies. [1261] And still Nebuzaradan will never stop until be goes to the
temple with all his men; they beat on the barriers, break open the gates,
slew at a blow all who ministered there, pulled priests by the hair and
struck off their heads, put deacons to death, struck down clerics, and all
the maidens of the temple fiercely cut to pieces with the swinging blow of
the sword that killed them all. Then they ran to the sacred treasures like
wild robbers, and pillaged all the equipment that belonged to the church
– [1271] the pillars of pure brass adorned with gold, and the main
chandelier carrying the light, which bore aloft the lamp that always shone
before the holy of holies where wonders often occurred. They took away
that candlestick, and also the crown of glorious costly gold that the altar
had upon it, the gridiron and the goblets adorned with silver, the bases
of the bright pillars and vessels so fair, precious dishes of gold and fine
chargers, the incense dishes and vessels of potent jewels [i.e. jewels with
special powers]. [1281] Now Nebuzaradan has seized all these sacred
things, and pillaged that precious place and packed those goods; the gold
[objects] of the treasury in very great numbers, with all the ornaments
of that building, he packed together; he seized contemptuously in a short
time all that Solomon had sought to create for many a long year. With
all the wisdom that he [i.e. Solomon] had, in order to work righteously,
he devised the vessels and the pure vestments; with the skill of his crafts,
in order to praise his Lord, he decorated the church and the ornaments
together. [1291] Now Nebuzaradan has seized it all together, and
afterwards [he] beat down the city and burnt it to ashes. Then with legions
of men he rides across country, harries every corner of Israel; with laden
waggons he finds the ruler [i.e. Nebuchadnezzar], delivers to the king

the property that he had seized; presented to him the prisoners that they
had taken as booty – many men who were honoured while their worldly
prosperity lasted, many sons of fine lords, and very wealthy maidens, the
proudest of the province, and prophets’ children, like Ananias, Azarias,
and also Mishael, and worthy Daniel as well, who was a noble prophet,
with many a proud mother’s son, in great numbers.
[1304] And Nebuchadnezzar makes much joy, now he has conquered
the king and won the country, and killed all the boldest and noblest in
arms, and laid to the ground the leading men of their faith, and made
prisoners the chief of the company of prophets. But his wonder was
intense at the joy of the jewellery so noble and splendid, when it was
showed to him so bright; Nebuchadnezzar had never before then been
informed of such vessels, which were worth so much. [1313] He took
possession of them with solemnity, and praised the Lord who was glorious
over all, the God of Israel. Such goods, such robes, such lovely vessels,
never [before] came out of [any] land to the kingdom of Chaldea. He
stowed them away in his treasury in a chosen place, fitly, with reverence,
as he was right [to do]; and in that respect he acted like the wise man,
as you will understand hereafter, for had he held them cheap, something
worse might have happened to him. [1321] That noble man ruled for
his lifetime in great royalty, as conqueror of every region he was called
caesar, emperor of all the earth and also the sultan, and also his name was
inscribed as the god of all earth. And [it was] all through the judgement
of Daniel, after he had explained that all good things come from God,
and revealed it to him by examples, that he completely acknowledged
his [i.e. Daniel’s] discourse at last, and often it humbled his spirit, his
arrogant deeds.
But all come to die with sorrow in the end: however great a man
is, he falls to the ground. [1331] And so Nebuchadnezzar, as he needs
must be, in spite of all his great imperial rule, is buried in the earth. But
then the bold Belshazzar, who was his eldest child, was installed in his
place, and established the kingdom in the city of Babylon, [a kingdom]
he believed the greatest, having no equal in heaven or on earth; for he
began in all the glory that the man, Nebuchadnezzar, who was his noble
father, left him. So bold a king never appeared in Chaldea before then,
but he [i.e. Belshazzaar] did not honour Him who dwells in heaven.
[1341] But false illusions of fiends, made by hand with tools from hard
wood, and raised aloft, and made of stumps and stones, when they are
gilded with gold and adorned with silver, he calls mighty gods; and there
he kneels and calls out and appeals for help. If they advise him correctly
he promises them reward, and if they refuse him his favour, angering his
heart, he seizes a great club and knocks them to pieces. Thus he rules
his empire in pride and ostentation, in lust and in lechery and loathsome
deeds; and [he] had a wife to enjoy, a noble queen, and many mistresses,
who were nevertheless called ladies. [1353] The mind of that man was
entirely [fixed] on perverse things, on the beauty of his concubines and
exquisite clothes, on trying out new foods and foolish fashions, until it
pleased the Lord of the heavens to end it. Then this bold Belshazzar
resolves on a certain occasion to give a display of his pride; it is not
enough for the foolish person to practise every evil thing unless all the
world knows his wicked deeds. [1361] Belshazzar caused his edict to be
proclaimed throughout Babylon, and his summons spread throughout the
land of Chaldea, that all the nobles on earth should gather together and
assemble on a set day at the sultan’s feast. The man intended to make
such a banquet that the king of every land should come to it, every ruler
with his retinue, and other noble lords, should come to his court and
ackowledge him as lord, and offer him reverence, and listen to his revelry,
to look on his mistresses, and call them ladies. [1371] To praise him in his
royal state rich men and many a bold baron came to Babylon the noble.
So many men went towards Babylon – kings, great emperors, made their
way to the court, many noble lords who brought ladies – that to mention
the number would be very difficult. For the city was so large and also
so strong, situated in the loveliest place on earth [litl under the stars],
proudly on a smooth plain, fairest place of all, surrounded on every side
by seven great rivers, with a wonderfully made wall arrayed very high,
with elegant battlements above, carved most skilfully, pinnacled towers
at intervals of twenty spear lengths, and [others] more closely crowded
around the outside, with wooden platforms placed at right angles. [1385]
The estate which was contained within the precinct was long and very
broad and square on all sides, and every side measured seven miles on
the ground, and the sultan’s residence [was] set in the middle. That
was a superb palace, surpassing all others both in construction and in
marvels, and walled all around; [there were] tall houses within, the hall
proportionate to it, built with so broad a space between the columns that
horses might run there.
[1393] When the appointed time of the feast was reached, nobles
went there and met on the dais, and Belshazzar prepared to sit at the
table, ascended the stone steps [lit. the stones arranged as steps] of
his massive throne. Then the hall floor was completely covered with
knights, and barons were ready everywhere at the side-tables, for no one
was placed upon the dais but the noble one [i.e. Belshazzar] himself,
and his fair concubines in bright clothes. [1401] When all the people
were seated there then the service begins; [there was a] loud blare of
trumpets, with broad banners on them, shining with gold, clamour in
the hall; everywhere their blasts resound from the walls; men bearing
the roast meats upon broad dishes shining like silver, and served from
them; [they had] raised canopies over them, carved on top, cut out of
paper and tipped with gold, fierce baboons above, beasts underneath,
birds fluttering here and there in foliage, and richly enamelled all over
in azure and indigo; and all the men carried it in on horseback. [1413]
And all the time the sound of kettle-drums, notes of pipes, timbrels and
tabours, sounded constantly, cymbals and fanfares answer the noise, and
the beating of drumsticks clattered so rapidly. Thus [people] all around
the hall were served many times, with pleasure in the various courses,
before the lord himself, where the man and all his paramours were sitting
at the table; they brought wine to him so fast it warmed his heart and rose
as a vapour into his brain and impaired his mind, and his reason grew
feeble, and he almost goes mad; for he looks round about, he beholds his
wenches, and his fine company of barons around the walls. [1425] Then
a folly struck deep into his heart, and he conceived by himself an evil
plan; the lord loudly calls for his marshal, and commands him to open the
coffers quickly, and fetch out the vessels that his father, Nebuchadnezzar,
noble in his strength, brought [back], [which he] won with his knights
and seized from the church in Jerusalem, in Judea, in a reverent manner:
[1433] ‘Bring them now to my table, fill them with drink, let these ladies
drink from them – I love them in [my] heart; I shall graciously show,
and they will know at once, that there is no liberality in any man like the
courteous manners of Belshazzar.’
Then this statement was immediately related to the treasurer, and
with keys he opens many chests; many a dazzling load was brought into
the hall, and many sideboards were covered with white cloths. [1441]
The treasures from Jerusalem with dazzling gems were becomingly set
out at the side of the hall; the noble altar of brass was brought in, with
the splendid cincture of gold arrayed upon it. That which had before
been blessed by the hands of bishops and carefully anointed with the
blood of beasts, in the solemn sacrifice which had good aroma before
the Lord of heaven in His praise, is now placed, to serve Satan the
black, before the bold Belshazzar with arrogance and with pride; raised
upon this altar were noble vessels that had been cleverly fashioned with
such rare skill. [1453] Solomon devoted himself for seven years and a
period more, with all the learning that the sovereign Lord sent him, to
plan and devise to have them made perfectly. For there were brilliant
vessels of lovely burnished gold, enamelled with lapis lazuli, and water
pitchers to match, fair covered cups, fashioned like castles, fortified under
the battlement with skilfully made bantels [i.e. projecting horizontal
coursings], and carved out in figures of wonderful shapes. [1461] The
tops of the covers which rose from the cups were elegantly formed into
long turrets, pinnacles plainly set there jutted out at intervals, and all
embossed above with branches and leaves, magpies and parrots fashioned
within, as though they were proudly pecking at pomegranates; for all the
blooms on the boughs were shining pearls, and all the fruit in those shapes
[were made] of flaming gems, and sapphires, and cornelians, and lovely
topazes, alamandines, and emeralds, and amethyst gems, chalcedonies,
and chrysolites, and lovely rubies, peridots, and pinkardines, and pearls at
intervals throughout; [1473] all were thus ornamented from side to side
with patterns of trailing foliage and trefoils, all around the rims of each
beaker and bowl; the goblets of gold engraved round about, and incense-
burners adorned with flowers and butterflies of gold; all were placed alike
on that altar. The candlestick was at once brought there by a device,
arrayed on the pillars, so that many praised it, upon its bases of brass
which supported the structure, the boughs above it bright, intertwined
with gold, spreading branches on them, and birds sat there, of many
skilfully made species, of many kinds of hue, as though with their wings
they were fluttering their feathers on the wind. [1485] Among the leaves
of the trees lamps were set, and other lovely lights that shone beautifully,
such as many candles of wax, embossed on the outside with many a noble
beast all of burnished gold. It [i.e. the candlestick] was not accustomed
to waste candles in that dwelling, but to stand faithfully in the temple of
truth before the holy of holies, where the true Lord expounded His words
spiritually to specially chosen prophets.
[1493] You may well believe that the Lord that rules the sky was
greatly displeased by that revelry in that strange situation, that His
treasures so noble, which before had proved precious in His presence,
were defiled by louts. Some had been anointed solemnly in His sacrifice,
at the command of Himself who sits so high; now a boaster on a bench
tipples from them until he is as drunk as the devil, and is demented where
he sits. [1501] The Creator of this world is so disgusted at this that at the
height of their sport He settles on a purpose; but before He would harm
them in the haste of His wrath, He sent them a warning which seemed a
marvel to them. Now all these utensils have been fetched to serve gluttons,
set in a fine place, and glittering brightly. Belshazzar on a sudden impulse:
‘Serve us from them! Bring wine in this house! Wassayl!’ he cries. Swift
servants quickly hurry there, seize cups in their hands to serve kings;
others readily pour [wine] into bright bowls, and each man exerts himself
on behalf of his master alone. [1513] Truly there was ringing of rich
metals when men in that magnificent castle ran to take it [i.e. the wine];
the clattering of lids which those ladies threw [aside] rang out as merrily
as music from a psaltery. Then the fool on the dais drank as hard as he
could; and then boldly are served chieftains and princes, concubines and
knights; in response to their jollity, as each one had [wine] poured for him
he drained the cup. [1521] So these lords sipped these sweet liquors for a
long time, and gloried in their false gods, and entreat their grace, though
they were [made] of stumps and stones, dumb for ever – no sound ever
stole forth from them, their tongues were so fastened. The wretches still
call on all the good golden gods, Baalpeor and Belial, and Beelzebub
also, praised them as highly as if heaven were theirs, but Him who gives
all good things, that God they forgot. Therefore a marvel happened, that
many people saw; the king perceived it first and all the court afterwards:
[1531] in the royal palace, upon the bare wall, opposite the candlestick,
where it shone most clearly, there appeared a hand, with a horrible great
stylus in its fingers, and writes sternly; no other shape but a fist, lacking
the wrist, cut on the plaster, formed letters. When bold Belshazzar looked
at that hand, such a stupefying fear rushed to his heart that his face grew
all pale and his composure failed; [1540] the powerful impact of the blow
afflicted his joints, his knees knock together and his thighs bend, and with
the striking of his palms he treats his cheeks with scorn, and cries out like
a frightened ox that roars for dread, all the time watching the hand until it
had engraved everything and scratched strange words on the rough wall.
When it had scraped the inscription with a rough pen, as a coulter cuts
the furrows in clay, then truly it vanished and disappeared from sight; only
the letters remained prominent on the plaster.
[1550] As soon as the king was able to speak again for his distress,
he ordered his scholars [lit. men who were book-learned] to come, to
examine the writing [to see] what it meant, and to tell him clearly – ‘for
the fingers so grim utterly terrify me [lit. frighten my flesh].’ Scholars
hasten thereupon to discover the significance, but there was never one
so wise that he could interpret one word, or what people’s learning or
language either, [or] what information or statement those characters
signified. Then the bold Belshazzar became almost mad, and ordered
the city [i.e. the citizens] to seek men everywhere who were wise in
witchcraft, and other wizards who dealt with magic and interpret letters.
[1562] ‘Summon them all to my court, those Chaldean scholars, disclose
to them all this marvel that has happened here, and call out with a loud
proclamation: “He who instructs the king, in expounding the language

that is expressed in these letters, and resolves the subject-matter [lit.
makes the subject-matter be resolved] within my mind, so that I may
clearly understand what the writing means, he shall be dressed very
splendidly in robes of purple, and a collar of bright gold fastened around
his throat; [1570] he shall be the primate and prince of pure learning,
and he shall be the third among my noblest lords, and the wealthiest of
my kingdom to ride with me, except for only two, then he the third.”’
This announcement was proclaimed, and there came out of Chaldea
many scholars who were acknowledged to be the wisest, like the learned
sages who knew sorcery, witches and wizards came to that hall, diviners
of phantoms who could interpret dreams, sorcerers who called up spirits
and many such scholars; and all who looked at that inscription were as
ignorant as though they had looked at the leather of my left boot. [1582]
Then the king cries out and tears his clothes. Oh! he cursed his scholars
and called them peasants; he vowed very often that he would hang the
rogues: the man was so distracted that he very nearly went mad. She who
was the chief queen heard him scolding from her bedroom. When she
was informed by servants what the cause was – such a change of fortune
in the main hall – the lady, to relieve the harm that the lord was suffering,
moves down the stairs and goes to the king. [1591] She kneels on the
cold floor and speaks words of reverence to him with wise speech. ‘Great
king,’ said the queen, ‘emperor of the earth, may your life last for ever
in length of days! Why have you rent your robe for lack of advice in this
matter, though those men are ignorant to read letters, when you have a
man in your dominion, as I have often heard, who has the spiritual insight
of God who rules all truths? His soul is full of learning, to explain words,
to reveal every hidden thing relating to strange happenings. [1601] It is
he who has very often raised your father out of many a burning rage
with his holy speech. When Nubuchadnezzar was troubled in times of
torment, he expounded the essential truth in his dreams; with his advice
he restored him from evil fortunes; everything that he asked him, in time
he explained completely, through the aid of the spirit, which was present
within him, of the most gracious gods who avail everywhere. Because of
his deep learning in divinity and his precious sayings, your bold father
commanded his name to be Belshazzar, who is now called Daniel – he
of secret arts, who was taken into captivity in the country of the Jews;
[1613] Nebuzaradan captured him, and he is now here, a prophet from
that province and the best in the world. Send into the city to seek him
quickly, and persuade him by [promise of] honour to bring you help; and
though the matter that is written over there is obscure, he will interpret
it as clearly as it stands on the clay wall.’
That good counsel from the queen was accepted at once; the man
was brought before Belshazzar in a while. [1621] When he came before
the king and courteously greeted him, Belshazar embraced him, and said:
‘My dear sir, men tell me that you were a true prophet of that province
that my father plundered, and that you have holy knowledge in your
heart, your soul full of wisdom, to reveal truths; [that] the spirit of God
who rules all things is made known to you, and you uncover every secret
thing that the King of heaven purposes. And here a marvel has occurred,
and I would gladly understand the meaning of the writing that sticks to
the wall, for all the Chaldean scholars have failed disgracefully. [1632]
If you discover it with wisdom, I will pay you your reward: for if you
interpret it correctly and make sense of it, first tell me the words of the
letters joined together, and then afterwards tell me the substance of the
message, I shall keep the promise that I have made to you, array you in
purple cloth, a robe finest of all, and the necklace of bright gold around
your neck, and [make] you the third most favoured [man] who follows
me: you shall be lord of the king’s council – I offer you no less.’
[1641] Daniel then boldly uttered these words: ‘Great king of this
realm, may our Lord guide you! It is certainly true the Sovereign of
heaven always aided your father and took care of him on earth, caused
him to be the greatest of all rulers, and to control all the world at his
wish as it pleased him. Whoever he wished to do good to, good came
to him, and whoever’s death he desired, he put to death immediately;
whoever it pleased him raise, he was soon on high, and whoever it pleased
him to lay low was immediately humbled. [1651] ‘Thus the renown of
Nebuchadnezzar was made famous, his kingdom firmly established by the
mighty Lord, because he had a belief in his heart concerning the Highest,
that all power came directly from that Prince. And while that counsel was
held fast in his heart there was no man on earth as powerful as himself;
until it happened one day pride touched him because of his dominion so
wide and his prosperous life; he had so huge an opinion of his own deeds
that he entirely forgets the power of the supreme Prince. [1661] Then
he does not hold back from blasphemy, in such a way as to disparage the
Lord; with his words he made his might equal to God’s: “I am god of
the earth, to rule as it pleases me, like Him who is high in heaven, who
rules His angels. If He has formed the earth and the people on it, I have
built Babylon, richest city of all, established every stone there through
the strength of my arms; no power but mine could ever make another
such [city].” This very utterance had not gone from his mouth before the
Lord’s speech sounded in his ears: [1671] “Now Nebuchadnezzar has said
enough; now all your sovereignty is ended at once, and you must remain
on the moor, remote from the sons of men, and walk in the wilderness
and dwell with the wild animals, like a beast graze on the field, [eating]
bracken and grass, to live with fierce wolves and with wild asses.” At the
height of his pride he departed there from the throne of his high position;
he leaves his pleasure, and is wretchedly cast out into an unknown region,
far into a distant woodland where people never came. [1681] His mind
became unsound; he thought nothing else than that he was a beast, a bull
or an ox. He goes outside on all fours, grass was his food, and [he] ate
hay like a horse when plants were dead [i.e. in winter]; thus he who was
a great king considers himself a cow, until seven summers had passed [lit.
seven periods had passed, summers I believe]. By that time many thick
feathers crowded around his face, that were all arrayed and adorned in
the dew of heaven; hair, tangled and matted, flowed all around him,
extending from his shoulders to his groin, and entwining twenty-fold it
reached to his toes, where many [hairs] clung as though plaster stuck it
together. [1693] His beard spread all over his breast to the bare earth,
his brows bristly as briars about his broad cheeks; his eyes were hollow
and under shaggy hairs, and all was as grey as the kite, with ugly claws
that were as hooked and sharp as the kite’s talons; he was eagle-coloured
and covered all over [with hair], until he well understood who created all
powers and could destroy and restore each kingdom when it pleased Him.
[1701] Then He restored his reason to him who had suffered sorrow, so
that he recovered his senses and knew himself; then he praised that Lord
and believed it was truly none other than He who controlled everything.
Then he was soon sent back, his throne restored; his barons came to him,
glad of his return, his head was fittingly covered with his own headdress,
and so his high estate was promptly set up and restored.
‘But you, Belshazzar, his son and his bold heir, saw these signs with
your own eyes and set little store them, [1711] but have always raised
your heart against the supreme Lord, have hurled boasting at Him with
arrogance and with blasphemy, and now with unclean vanity have defiled
his vessels, that from the beginning were raised in His house to honour
Him; you have brought them before the barons and poured into them
choice wine for your concubines in cursed times; before your table you
have brought drink in the blessed vessels that were first blessed with joy
by the hands of bishops, praising in them false gods that never had life,
made of stumps and stones that could never stir. [1721] And because of
that defiling filth, the Father of heaven has sent these strange sights into
this hall, the hand with the fingers that terrified your heart, that scratched
the wall in outlandish words with the rough pen. Without more ado, these
are the words here written, with each character, as I find, as it pleases our
Father: Mene, Tekel, Peres: written in three words, that rebuke you for your
depravity in three ways. Now I intend to expound these words to you
quickly: [1730] Mene is as much as to say “Mighty God has reckoned your
kingdom by an exact number, and in fact has completed it to its latter
end.” To teach you about Tekel, that term signifies thus: “Your noble reign
is chosen to hang in the scales, and has been found lacking in deeds of
faith.” And Peres follows because of those misdeeds, to tell [lit. seek] the
truth; in Peres truly I find these stern words: “Your sovereignty is divided,
you will be dispossessed, your realm is taken away from you, and given
to the Persians; the Medes shall be masters here, and you driven from
honour.”’
[1741] The king at once commanded that that wise man should be
clothed in garments of fine cloth, as the agreement required; immediately

then Daniel was dressed in sumptuous purple, and a collar of bright gold
placed around his neck. Then a decree was promulgated by the ruler
himself: noble Belshazzar commanded that all the people of Chaldea who
belonged to the king should bow to him, as [one] acknowledged as third
nearest to the prince, highest of all save two, to follow Belshazzar in city
and country. [1750] This was immediately proclaimed and acknowledged
in the court, and all the people who served him were glad of it. But however
Daniel was honoured [lit. adorned], that day passed; night approached
immediately with many troubles, for another day never dawned, after that
same night, before that very judgement that Daniel had expounded was
executed. The pleasure of the festivity, of that splendid feast in that hall,
lasted until the sun went down; then the colour of the bright sky faded,
the fine air grows dark, and the mist drives along the horizon [lit. through
the edge of the sky] across the low meadows. [1762] Each man hurries
quickly to his home, [they] sat at their supper and sang afterwards; then
each company goes on its way late at night. Belshazzar was brought to
his bed with joy; let him obtain rest as it pleases him; he never rose again.
For his enemies, who had long sought that man in order to destroy his
lands, are now, at this very time, suddenly assembled in the field in great
companies. No one who lived in that city knew about them. [1771] It was
the noble Darius, the leader of the Medes, the proud prince of Persia,
and Porus of India, with many a very great legion, with men at arms, who
has now spied an opportunity to plunder Chaldea [lit. Chaldeans]. They
thronged thither in the darkness in dense companies, crossed safely over
the clear waters and scaled the walls, raised long ladders and went aloft,
stealthily took the town by surprise before any cry arose. Within an hour
of nightfall they had [made] an entry; still they disturbed no one. They
went further, and quietly approached the royal palace; then they ran in
with a rush in great companies; [1783] blasts from bright brass trumpets
burst out so loud, an alarmed clamour in the sky, which daunted many.
People were killed in their sleep before they could escape; every house was
ransacked within a short space of time. Belshazzar was beaten to death in
his bed, so that his blood and his brains mingled on the bed-clothes; the
king was seized by the heels in his bed-curtain, pulled out by the feet and
shamefully abused. [1791] He who was so bold that day and drank from
the vessels is now as precious as a dog that lies in a ditch. For the lord of
the Medes rises in the morning, noble Darius [who was] set that day on
the throne, seizes the city entirely undamaged, and is reconciled with all
the barons thereabout, who submitted to him. And thus that land was lost
because of the lord’s sin, and the impurity of the man who had polluted
the furnishings of God’s house that were made for a holy purpose. [1800]
He was cursed for his uncleanness, and taken in it, put down from his
high office for his horrible deeds, and thrust out from this world’s honour
for ever, and still deprived of pleasures above, I believe: it will be a long
time before he looks on our dear Lord.
Thus in three ways I have thoroughly shown you that uncleanness
cleaves asunder the noble heart of that gracious Lord who dwells in
heaven, provokes Him to be angry, arouses His vengeance; and purity is
His comfort, and He loves decency, and those that are seemly and pure
shall see His face. [1811] May He send us such grace that we may go
brightly in our apparel, so that we may serve in His sight, where joy never
ceases. Amen.

Patience
Patience is a virtue, though it may often displease. When sorrowful hearts

are hurt by scorn or something else, long-suffering can assuage them and
ease the pain, for she [i.e. patience] kills everything bad and extinguishes
malice. For if anyone could endure sorrow, happiness would follow;
and anyone who, through resentment, cannot endure suffers the more
intensely. So it is better [for me] to put up with the blow from time to
time, though this may be distasteful to me, than to give vent continually
to my resentment. I heard on a holy day, at a solemn mass, how Matthew
told that his Master taught His followers. [11] He decreed them eight
beatitudes, and for each one a reward, severally, according to its merit, in
a diverse manner: they are blessed who have poverty at heart, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven to keep for ever; they who practise meekness
are also blessed, for they shall possess this world and have all their wishes;
they are blessed also who weep for their sin, for they shall obtain comfort
in many countries; they are blessed also who hunger after justice, for they
shall abundantly be nourished full of all goodness; [21] they are blessed
also who have pity at heart, for their reward shall be mercy in all ways;
they are blessed also who are pure in heart, for they shall see with their
eyes their Saviour on [His] throne; they are blessed also who remain quiet,
for they shall properly be called the gracious God’s sons; they are blessed
also who can control their hearts, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, as
I said before. These are all the eight beatitudes that were promised to us,
if we would love these ladies in imitation of [their] virtues: [31] Dame
Poverty, Dame Pity, Dame Penance the third, Dame Meekness, Dame
Mercy, and fair Cleanness, and then Dame Peace, and Patience put in
afterwards. He who had one would be blessed; all would be better. But
since I am reduced to a condition that is called poverty, I shall equip
myself with patience and amuse myself with both, for in the passage [i.e.
the Beatitudes] where these two are discussed, they are presented in one
72 Patience lines [39–79]
formula [as] the first and the last, and by pursuit of their wisdom attain
one [i.e. the same] reward. [40] And also, in my opinion, they are of the
same nature: for where poverty presents herself, she will not be put out,
but remains wherever she likes, [whether you are] pleased or annoyed;
and where poverty oppresses, though one may think it torment, he must
needs suffer a great deal, in spite of anything he might say; thus poverty
and patience are, of necessity, playmates. Since I am beset by them
together, I am obliged to endure [them]; then it is easier for me to like
it and praise their manners, than resist and be angry and have the worst
[of it]. If it is ordained for me to receive an inevitable fate, what good
does indignation, or making resistance, do me? [51] Or if it pleases my
liege lord on earth to command me either to ride or to run to Rome on
his business, what good would complaining do me? – it would only invite
more trouble. It would be a great thing if he did not compel me, despite
my objections, and then I would have to endure compulsion and vexation
as my reward, who, if I had complied with his command, would have had
his goodwill for my recompense. Did not Jonah once [play] such a trick
in Judea? In his attempt to achieve security, he brings misfortune upon
himself. If you will linger a little moment and attend to me a while, I shall
instruct you by means of it as the Bible tells.
[61] It happened at one time within the borders of Judea, [that]
Jonah was appointed prophet to the Gentiles there; God’s message, that
made him unhappy, came to him, with a harsh sound whispered in his
ear: ‘Rise quickly,’ He says, ‘and go on your way; take the way to Nineveh
without further words, and in that city spread all around My sayings,
which in that place, at the time, I put in your heart. For those who dwell
in that city are indeed so wicked and their sin is so great, I cannot delay,
but will revenge Myself on their evil and malice immediately; now go
there swiftly and proclaim this message for Me.’ [73] When that voice,
which stunned his spirit, had finished, he became very angry in his mind,
and he thought rebelliously: ‘If I obey His command and bring them this
message, and I am taken in Nineveh, my troubles begin: He tells me those
traitors are consummate villains; [if] I come with those tidings, they [will]
seize me immediately, confine me in a prison, put me in the stocks, torture
Patience lines [80–123] 73
me in a foot-shackle, pluck out my eyes. [81] This is a marvellous message

for a man to preach among so many enemies and cursed fiends, unless
my gracious God should wish such suffering to befall me, that I should
be killed in recompense for some offence. Come what may,’ said the
prophet, ‘I shall approach no nearer to it. I will go some other way that
He does not watch over; I shall go to Tarshish and stay there a while, and
when I am lost He will probably let me alone.’ Then he rises quickly and
immediately departs, Jonah, towards port Joppa, all the time grumbling
angrily that he would not endure any of those torments for anything,
even if the Father who made him was indifferent to his safety. [93] ‘Our
Lord sits,’ he says, ‘on a throne so high in His shining glory, and frowns
very little even though I should be taken in Nineveh and stripped naked,
pitifully torn apart on a cross by many villains.’ Thus he travels to that
port to seek his passage, finds a fine ship ready for the journey, settles
with the seamen, pays their fee to take him to Tarshish as soon as they
could. [101] Then he stepped on board that ship [lit. on those boards]
and they prepare their tackle, hoist the mainsail, fasten ropes; quickly they
weigh their anchors at the windlass, smartly fasten the spare bow-line to
the bowsprit, haul at the guy-ropes; the big canvas falls; they put in [their
oars] on the larboard side and gain the luff [i.e. the advantage of the
wind]. The favourable wind behind them finds the swelling sail; it swiftly
swings this fine ship out of the harbour.
[109] There was never so joyful a Jew as then was Jonah, who had
so boldly escaped the power of the Lord; he certainly supposed that the
Being who established all the world had no power to harm any man on
that sea. Lo, the witless wretch! Because he was not willing to suffer he
has now put himself in a situation of much greater peril. It was a foolish
hope that revolved in his mind, that, if he had left Samaria, God looked
no farther. Yes, He looked far and wide: of that he [i.e. Jonah] should
have been sure; the speech which the king made often declared that to
him – noble David on [his] throne, who uttered this speech in a psalm
that he set within the Psalter: [121] ‘O fools among people, perceive now
and then and understand sometimes, though you are advanced in folly:
do you suppose that He who created all ears does not hear? It cannot
be that He who made every eye is blind.’ But he who behaves foolishly
because of his age fears no blow, for he was far [out] on the sea hastening
to Tarshish. But I believe he was overtaken very quickly, so that he shot
shamefully short of his mark. For the Ruler of wisdom who knows all
things, who always wakes and watches, has strategems at His command.
[131] He summoned that same power He made with His hands; they
awakened so much the more angrily because He called angrily: ‘Eurus
and Aquilon that sit in the east, both blow at my command upon the dark
waters.’ Then there was no interval between His speech and their action,
so eager were they both to carry out His command. Immediately the
noise begins [to come] out of the north-east, when both winds blew upon
the dark waters. Rough storm-clouds rose there with redness underneath;
the sea moaned very grievously, amazing to hear; [141] the winds wrestle
together so on the dark water that the raging waves rolled so high and
plunged back to the abyss, that terrified fishes did not dare to remain
anywhere at the bottom because of the turbulence. When the wind and
the sea and the ship met, it was a joyless craft that Jonah was in, for it
reeled around upon the rough waves. The strong wind struck it abaft so
that all their gear broke, then the helm and the rudder tumbled in a heap;
first many ropes broke and afterwards the mast; [151] the sail dropped on
the sea; then the ship was obliged to drink from the cold water, and then a
cry goes up. Yet they cut the ropes and threw everything overboard; many
a fellow ran forward there to bale out and throw [overboard]; anxious to
save themselves, they scooped out the life-threatening water – for however
wretched a man’s way of life may be, life itself is still sweet. There was a
hurry to throw cargo overboard – their bags and their feather-beds and
their bright clothes, their chests and their coffers, all their casks – and all
to lighten that vessel, in case calm should fall. But the noise of the winds
was always equally loud, and ever fiercer the water and more furious the
currents.
[163] Then those [men] exhausted with toil perceived [there was] no
help, but each called on his god that helped him best: some made solemn
vows to Vernagu there, some to chaste Diana and mighty Neptune, to
Mahomet and Margot, the moon and the sun, and each man according
to his devotion and where he had committed his heart. Then the wisest
spoke, very nearly in despair: ‘I believe there is some traitor here, some
lawless wretch, who has offended his god and goes here among us. [172]
Lo, everybody sinks for his sin and perishes for his offence. I recommend
that we deal out lots to every man and whoever the losing one falls to,
put him overboard; and what can a man believe but that, when the guilty
one is gone, He who rules the storm-cloud will have pity on the others?’
This was agreed, and they were assembled, routed out of every corner
to receive what falls to their lots. A steersman quickly ran below deck, in
order to seek more men and bring them to the casting of lots. [181] But
there was no man that he could not find, except Jonah the Jew, who lay
asleep in secret. He had fled for fear of the sea’s roarings into the bottom
of the ship, and lay on a board, huddled by the rudder-band, for [fear of]
heaven’s vengeance; [he had] slipped into a heavy sleep, and slobbers and
snores. The man kicked him with his foot and bade him jump up: may
Ragnel in his chains rouse him from his dreams! Then he seized him by
the clasped garment, and brought him up by the breast [of his garment]
and set him on deck, [and] asked him very roughly what reason he had
to sleep so soundly in such dire straits [lit. strokes of sorrow].
[193] Soon they have prepared their lots and dealt them out
individually, and each time the lot finally fell to Jonah. Then they cried
out to him quickly and asked very loudly: ‘What the devil have you done,
foolish wretch? Why are you trying, sinful villain, to destroy us all on the
sea with your wicked vices? Have you, man, no master or god to call on,
that you drift off to sleep in this way when you are going to be killed?
[201] What land have you come from, what are you looking for here,
where in the world do you want [to go], and what is your business? Look,
your judgement is passed on you, for your evil deeds. Give praise to your
god before you go hence.’ ‘I am a Hebrew,’ he said, ‘born in Israel; I
indeed worship the Being who created all things by a single word, all the
world with the sky, the wind and the stars, and all that lives in it. All this
misfortune is caused on account of me at this time, for I have offended my
God and am found guilty; [211] therefore bear me to the side and plunge
me overboard; until then you will get no good fortune, I truly believe.’ He
showed them by signs, so that they understood that he had fled from the
face of the gracious Lord; then such fear fell on them and terrified them
within that they hasten to row, and let the man [i.e. Jonah] alone. Men
strove in haste with long oars, since their sail had slipped away, to row
at the sides, to heave and pull as strongly as possible to help themselves.
But all this activity was in vain: that would not happen. [221] Their oars
broke in the turbulence of the dark water. Then they had nothing in their
hands that could help them; then there was no comfort to find, nor any
other counsel, but to condemn Jonah to his doom immediately. First they
pray to the Prince that prophets serve, that He would give them the grace
not to offend Him at all, by steeping their hands in innocent blood, even
if the man that they put to death here were His. Quickly they took him
then by top and toe; into that fearsome sea they immediately pitch him.
[231] No sooner was he thrown out than the tempest ceased: thereupon
the sea became calm as soon as it might. Then, though the tackle of
those who tottered on the waves was torn, strong and compelling currents
constrained them for a while, drove them relentlessly along at the mercy
of [lit. to serve] the deep, until a gentler one brought them very swiftly
to the shore. When they reached the land, praise was lifted aloft to our
merciful God, in the manner of Moses, with sacrifice raised up, and
solemn vows, and [they] acknowledged Him alone to be God, and truly
no other. [241] Though they are cheerful and joyous, Jonah is still afraid;
though he did not want to suffer any pain, his well-being is in peril; for
what became of that man after he plunged into the water, it would be a
marvel to believe, if it were not for the Bible.
Now Jonah the Jew is condemned to drown; men quickly pushed
him from that battered ship. A wild wallowing whale, that was driven
from the abyss as Providence then ordained, floated beside that ship, and
was aware of that man who was going into the water, and swiftly swung
himself around to swoop, and opened its gullet; [251] with the people
still holding his feet, the fish quickly seizes him; without being touched by
any tooth, he tumbled into its throat. Then he [i.e. the whale] swings and
sweeps to the bottom of the sea, beside many rough rocks and winnowing
sands, with the man in his belly dazed with fear – as it was little wonder,
if he suffered woe, for had not the supreme King of heaven, through His
power, guarded this wretched man in the devil’s guts, what man might
believe, by any natural law, that any living person could remain so long
inside him? [261] But he [i.e. Jonah] was succoured by that Lord who sits
so high, though he was without hope of well-being in the belly of that
fish, and also driven through the deep, and [though he] rolls around in
the dark. Lord, his comfort was cold and his distress great, for he knew
every misfortune and trouble that befell him: how [in going] from the ship
into the seething water [he] was seized by a creature, and thrown in at
its throat without more ado, like a speck of dust in at a cathedral door,
so large were its jaws. He glides in by the gills through slime and filth,
reeling in by a gut, that seemed like a road to him, all the time whirling
about head over heels, till he stopped in a compartment as broad as a hall;
[273] and there he finds [lit. makes fast] his feet and gropes about, and
stood up in its stomach, which stank like the devil. There in grease and
in filth that smelled like hell, there was built the bower of the man who
is willing to suffer no harm. And then he creeps about and tries to find
where was the best shelter, in every corner of its stomach, but nowhere
does he find either rest or safety, only muck and mire, in whichever gut
he goes [into], but God is ever sweet; and there he stayed at last, and
called out to the Lord: [282] ‘Now, Prince, take pity on Your prophet.
Though I am foolish and fickle and false of heart, forgo Your vengeance
now, through the power of pity; though I am guilty of deceit, as the scum
of prophets, You are God, and all good things are truly Your own. Have
now mercy on Your man and his misdeeds, and readily show Yourself a
Lord in land and in water.’
With that he came upon a nook and remained in it, where no
defilement of filth was closely about him; [291] there he stayed as sound,
except for darkness alone, as in the hold of the ship where he had slept
before. So in a bowel of that creature he remains alive, three days and
three nights, continually bearing God in mind – His might and His
mercy, and then His moderation. Now he acknowledges Him in sorrow
who could not in good fortune. And this whale always rolls through deep
wild places, through many a very rough region, because of the pride
of his will; for that speck in his belly made him feel sick at his heart, I
think, though it was little in comparison with him; and as the man floated
along, assuredly he heard all the time the great flood on his [i.e. the
whale’s] back, beating on his sides. [303] Then the prophet very eagerly
composed a prayer, in this manner, as I believe (his words were many):
‘Lord, to You have I called in severe sorrows; from the hole of the belly
of hell You heard me; I called out, and You knew my indistinct voice. You
plunged me into the dim heart of the deep sea; the great flow of Your sea
enfolded me about; all the watercourses from Your depths and bottomless
seas and Your contending streams of so many currents pour over me in
one rushing flood. [313] And yet I said as I sat on the sea bottom: “I am
sorrowful, cast out from Your clear eyes and separated from Your sight;
yet surely I hope to walk in Your temple again and belong to Yourself.”
I am wrapped in water until my woe stupefies [me]; the abyss binds the
body that I live in; the foaming sea itself plays on my head; I have fallen,
Sir, to the last boundary of every mountain; the bars of every shore hold
me strongly, so that I may reach no land, and You govern my life. [323]
You will succour me, Sir, while Your justice sleeps, through the power of
Your mercy that is very trustworthy. For when the pang of anguish was
hidden in my soul, then I duly remembered my gracious Lord, praying
Him for pity to hear His prophet, so that my prayer might enter into His
holy house. I have spoken with Your learned men for many a long day,
but now I know for sure that those foolish men who trust in vanity and
empty things forsake the mercy which is [properly] theirs for something
that is of no significance; [333] but I devoutly promise, that which will
be truly kept to, reverently to make sacrifice to You when I am spared,
and offer You a suitable gift for my safety, and hold good whatever You
command me: have here my word of honour.’ Then our Father sternly
bids that fish the he should spit him out quickly upon bare, dry land. The
whale goes, in accordance with His will, and finds a shore, and there he
spews up the man as our Lord bade him.
[341] Then he swept to the shore in soiled clothes: it may well be that
there was need for him to wash his cloak. The shores that he gazed at and
[that] lay around him were of the very regions that he had [previously]
renounced. Then a breath of God’s word upbraids the man again: ‘Will
you still not go to Nineveh on any account [lit. by any sort of way]?’ ‘Yes,
indeed, Lord,’ said the man, ‘grant me Your grace to go at Your pleasure:
nothing else is of benefit to me.’ ‘Rise, approach then to preach; lo, [this
is] the place here. Lo, My teaching is contained within you: utter it in
that place.’ [351] Then the man rose as quickly as he could, and that
night he approached very near to Nineveh. It was a very large city and
marvellously broad [lit. marvellous of breadth]; merely to pass through
it was three days’ work. Jonah walked one day’s journey continuously,
before he uttered any word to [any] person that he met, and then he cried
out so clearly that all might understand the true purport of his subject; he
spoke in this manner: ‘Hereafter forty days will fully draw to an end, and
then Nineveh will be taken and destroyed; [361] truly this very town will
tumble to the ground; you will plunge upside-down deep into the abyss,
to be swiftly swallowed by the black earth, and all that live here die [lit.
lose the life-blood].’ This speech leapt forth there and then and spread
all about, to citizens and young men who lived in that city; such a terror
seized them and a cruel dread, that their demeanour all changed and
[they] grew cold at the heart. The man still did not stop, but said all the
time: ‘The true vengeance of God will destroy this place!’ [371] Then the
people piteously lamented very quietly, and for fear of the Lord grieved
at heart; they seized rough hair shirts that sharply tormented [them], and
they bound these to their backs and to their bare sides, dropped dust on
their heads, and gloomily beseeched that this penance would please Him
who complains of their wickedness. And all the time he cries out in that
country until the king heard, and he quickly rose and ran from his throne,
tore his rich robe from his naked back, and fell in the midst of a heap of
ashes. [381] He peremptorily asks for a hair shirt and fastened [it] around
him, sewed a sackcloth over it, and sighed very sadly; then he lay dazed in
that dust, with flowing tears, weeping profusely for all his evil deeds. Then
he said to his officers: ‘Assemble immediately; proclaim a decree, ordained
by myself, that all creatures living within this city, both men and beasts,
women and children, every nobleman, every priest, and all prelates, all
fast willingly for their false deeds; [391] snatch children from the breast,
however much is may distress them, nor shall beast eat broom, or grass
either, or go to pasture, or crop plants, nor shall any ox have access to hay,
or any horse to water. All shall cry out, pinched with hunger, with all our
pure strength; the sound will rise to Him who will have pity; who knows
or can know if it will please the Lord who is gracious in the excellence
of His courtesy [to have pity]? I know His might is so great, though He
is displeased, that in His mild gentleness He will find mercy. [401] And
if we leave the practice of our foul sins, and quietly walk in the path He
Himself ordains, He will turn from His fury and leave His wrath, and
forgive us this wicked conduct, if we believe Him to be God.’ Then all
assented to His law and left off their sins, performed all the penance
that the prince decreed; and God in His goodness forgave [them], as he
[i.e. the king] said [He would]; though He had promised otherwise, He
withheld His vengeance.
Great misery then came over the man Jonah; he became as wrathful
as the wind towards our Lord. [411] Anger has so seized his heart,
he calls out a prayer to the supreme Prince, in [his] torment, in this
manner: ‘I beseech you, Lord, now judge Yourself; was not this very
thing that has come to pass what I said [lit. the speech which I uttered]
in my country, when You sent Your word that I should go to this town
to preach Your purpose? I knew well Your courtesy, Your wise patience,
Your good-natured kindness and Your gentle grace, Your long tolerance
of injury, Your reluctant vengeance; and [that] Your mercy is always
sufficient, however great the offence. [421] I knew well, when I had
spoken whatever I could to threaten all these proud people who live in
this city, they could obtain their peace with a prayer and a penance, and
that is why I was about to flee far into Tarshish. Now, Lord, take away
my life, it lasts too long. Give me my death-agony quickly and put an
end to me, for I should rather [lit. it would be more pleasant to me to]
die at once, I think, than any longer promote Your teaching which makes
me false in this way.’ Then [there] sounds in his ear the voice of our
Lord, which upbraids this man in a stern manner: [431] ‘Listen, man,
is this just, to become angry so arrogantly for any deed that I have yet
done or decreed for you?’ Jonah gets up all joyless and grumbling, and
goes out on the eastern side of the great city, and he prepares to remain
pleasantly in a field, to watch what would happen afterwards in that city.
There he prepared himself a bower, the best that he could, out of hay
and fern and a few herbs, for it was bare in that place as regards waving
groves, to give protection from the sun [lit. bright one] or cast any shade.
[441] He stooped under his little booth, his back to the sun, and there
he fell asleep and slept heavily all night, while God in His grace caused
to grow from that soil the loveliest woodbine over him that a man ever
knew. When the Lord sent the dawning day, then the man awoke under
the woodbine, looked up at the foliage, that quivered green; no man ever
had such a fine bower of leaves, for it was broad at the bottom, vaulted
above, enclosed on each side as though it were a house, an opening on
the north side and nowhere any other, but all enclosed in a thicket that
cast cool shadow. [453] The man looked at the beautiful green leaves,
which a wind so light and so cool continually made to wave; the bright
sun shone around it, though no ray, [even] the size of a little speck,
might shine on that man. Then the man was so happy with his lovely
arbour, [he] lies lounging there looking towards town; so joyful about
his woodbine he sprawls underneath it, so that he cared for no food that
day – the devil take it. [461] And he constantly laughed as he looked all
around the arbour, and wished it was in his country where he would be
living, on high upon Ephraim or Hermon’s hills: ‘Indeed, I never wished
to possess a better dwelling.’ And when night approached he was obliged
to sleep; he slips slowly into a heavy sleep under the leaves, while God
sent a worm that dug up the root, and the woodbine was withered by
the time that the man awoke; and then He orders the west wind to wake
very quietly, and says to Zephyrus that he should blow warm, so that no
cloud should form in front of the bright sun, and she shall rise up very
brightly and burn like a candle.
[473] Then the man awoke from his pleasant dreams, and looked
at his woodbine that was wretchedly disfigured, those splendid leaves all
withered and wasted; the bright sun had destroyed them before the man
ever knew. And then the heat mounted up and burned fiercely; the warm
wind from the west scorches plants. The man, who could not hide himself,
suffered on the ground; his woodbine was gone; he wept for sorrow; [481]
with bitter, burning anger, he calls out fiercely: ‘Ah, You Maker of man,
what triumph does it seem to You thus to destroy Your man before all
others? With all the misfortune that You can, You never spare me; I found
myself a comfort that is now taken from me, my woodbind so fine that
protected my head. But now I see You are determined to take away my
pleasure; why do You not put me to death? I survive too long.’ Again our
Lord uttered a speech to the man: ‘Is this just, you man, all your proud
noise, to become so angry so quickly for a woodbine? Why are you so
peevish, man, for so little?’ [493] ‘It is not little,’ said the man, ‘but more
a matter of justice [lit. more like justice]; I wish I were out of this world,
wrapped in clods of earth.’ ‘Then consider, man, if it grieves you sorely:
do not be surprised if I wish to help My handiwork; you have become
so angry on account of your woodbine, and never worked the period of
an hour to tend it, but at a stroke it grew here and was gone at another,
and yet this pleases you so ill, you wish to lose your life. [501] Then do
not blame Me if I wish to help My creation, and [if I] have pity on those
helpless ones who lament for [their] sins; first I made them Myself from
my own primal matter, and then watched over them for a very long time
and had them under [My] guidance. And if I should lose My work of
such long duration, and overthrow yonder town when it had repented, the
pain of such a sweet place ought to sink into My heart, [there being] so
many wicked men who are repentant there. And of that number yet are
some, so utterly without reason, that [they] cannot distinguish between the
upright of a ladder and the rung, nor [can they see] what rule inscrutably
applies to the right hand and what to the [lit. its] left, though they might
lose their lives thereby; [513] like little children at the breast who never
did harm, and ignorant women who could not distinguish one hand from
the other, for all this great world. And also there are many dumb beasts
in the city, that may not commit any sin to harm themselves. Why should
I be angry with them, since [i.e. if] people will repent, and come and
acknowledge Me as King and believe My speech? If I were as hasty as
you in this instance, harm would befall; if I could endure only like you,
very few would thrive. [522] I cannot be so severe and be considered
merciful, for the power to do harm is not to be exercised without mercy

within. Do not be so angry, sir, but go forth on your way; be resolute and
patient in sorrow and in joy; for he who is too hasty in tearing his clothes
must then sit with more ragged [clothes] to sew them together.’
Therefore when poverty oppresses me and hardships in plenty, very
meekly with sufferance it behoves me to become reconciled; therefore
penance and sorrow prove it conclusively that patience is a noble virtue,
though it may often displease. Amen.
Sir Gawain and the
Green Knight
After the siege and the attack at Troy had ended, the city destroyed and
burnt to charred timbers and ashes, the man who framed the treasonable
plots there was tried for his treachery, the most authentic example on
earth. It was the noble Aeneas and his great offspring, who afterwards
subjugated provinces and became masters of almost all the wealth of the
lands of the west. When noble Romulus proceeds swiftly to Rome, he
builds that city in the beginning with great pomp and names it with his
own name, as it is now called; [11] Ticius goes to Tuscany and founds
dwellings, Langaberde raises up homes in Lombardy, and far over the
French sea [i.e. the Channel], Felix Brutus founds Britain with joy on
many broad slopes, where war and vengeance and marvel have continued
there from time to time, and often both joy and strife have quickly
alternated ever since.
[20] And when this Britain was founded by this noble man, bold men
flourished there, who loved battle, who brought about trouble there in
many a turbulent time. More marvels have often happened here in this
land than in any other I know, since that same time. But of all the kings of
Britain that lived here Arthur was always the noblest, as I have heard tell.
Therefore I intend to set forth a real-life adventure, which some people
consider plainly a marvel and an extraordinary adventure of the wonders
of Arthur. [30] If you will listen to this poem but a little while, I shall tell
it at once, aloud, as I have heard it in the court. The form in which it is
set down and fixed, in a brave and powerful chronicle enshrined in true
syllables, is that in which it has long existed.
86 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight lines [37–84]
[37] This king was in residence at Camelot at Christmas with many

gracious lords, the best of men – all those fine brothers fitly of the Round
Table – with splendid revelry in proper fashion and carefree amusements.
There men tourneyed many a time and oft: these excellent knights jousted
very gallantly, then went to court to perform ring-dances; for there the
festival was kept up in full for fifteen days, with all the food and the
merriment that people could devise: such noise and music glorious to
hear, a pleasant sound in the day, dancing at night – all was supreme
happiness in halls and chambers among lords and ladies, as it seemed
most delightful to them. [50] With all the good fortune in the world they
lived there together, the most renowned knights on earth and the loveliest
ladies that ever lived, and he who holds court, the finest king; for this fair
people in the hall were all in their prime, the most fortunate on earth,
the king a man noblest of mind – it would be difficult to name so bold a
warrior-band on a castle-mound.
[60] While New Year was so young that it was newly arrived, that day
the company on the dais were served double [portions of food]. After
the king had come into the hall with his knights, the singing of mass in
the chapel having ended, loud cries were uttered there by priests and
others, Christmas celebrated anew, named very often. And then nobles
ran forward to offer presents, cried aloud ‘New Year’s gifts!’, gave them
by hand, debated eagerly about those gifts; ladies laughed very loudly
although they had lost and he who won was not angry – that you may
well believe. [71] They made all this mirth until the meal time. When
they had washed fittingly, they took their places, the man of higher rank,
in each case, in the higher position, as was most fitting; Queen Guinevere,
very lovely, seated in the midst, placed on the splendid dais, adorned all
around: fine silk round about, a canopy of choice red fabric over her,
many tapestries of rich material, that were embroidered and inlaid with
the best gems whose value could ever be tested by buying them with
money [i.e. the best that money could buy]. The fairest to behold sparkled
there with blue-grey eyes; no man could truly say that he had ever seen
a more beautiful one.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight lines [85–131] 87
[85] But Arthur would not eat until all were served; he was so lively in
his youthfulness, and somewhat boyish. He loved an active life; he did
not care much for lying in bed or sitting long, he was so agitated by his
young blood and his restless mind. And also another custom moved him
as well, which he had undertaken as a matter of honour: he would never
eat on such a festal day until some daring matter had been related to him,
a strange tale of some great marvel that he could believe, of princes, of
chivalry, of other adventures; [96] or else some man entreated him for a
true knight to engage in jousting with him, for a man to lay life against
life in jeopardy, either one to concede victory to the other, as fortune saw
fit to help them. This was the king’s custom wherever he was in court, at
each splendid feast among his noble company in hall. Therefore, so proud
of face, he stands bold in his place; very youthful in that New Year, he
behaves very cheerfully with everybody.
[107] Thus the bold king himself stands there in his place, in front of
the high table, talking courteously of this and that. Good Gawain was
seated there beside Guinevere, and Agravain of the Hard Hand sits on
the other side – both the king’s sister’s sons and very true knights; Bishop
Baldwin sits in the place of honour, and Iwain, son of Urien, shared
dishes with him. These were placed on the dais and sumptuously served,
and afterwards many trustworthy men at the side-tables. [116] Then the
first course came with a blaring of trumpets, resplendent with many a
banner that hung from them; there was a new sound of drums with the
noble pipes, wild and piercing trills roused echoes, so that many hearts
rose very high at their strains. Thereupon delicacies of precious food
poured in, an abundance of fresh food, and on so many dishes that it
was difficult to find space in front of the people to set down on the cloth
the silver dishes that held the various pottages. Each man as he himself
liked took there ungrudged; each two had twelve dishes, good beer and
bright wine as well.
[130] Now I shall tell you no more about their service at table, for
everyone may well understand that nothing was lacking there. Another,
quite new, noise drew near suddenly, so that the prince might have leave
to take food; for scarcely a moment after the music had finished, and the
first course fittingly served in the court, there rushes in at the hall door a
fearsome lord, the very biggest man on earth in height; from the neck to
the middle so squarely built and so thick-set, and his loins and his limbs
so long and so big, I think he was half-giant on earth, [141] but at any
rate I declare him to be the biggest man, and moreover the most elegant
for his size who could ride a horse; for although his body was massive
in back and in chest, both his belly and his waist were becomingly slim,
and every part of him matching completely. For people were amazed at
his colour, ingrained in his outward appearance; he behaved like a bold
warrior, and bright green all over.
[151] And all arrayed in green were this man and his clothes: a close-
fitting tunic, very smooth, that clung to his sides, a fine cloak over it,
adorned on the inside with trimmed fur exposed, the whole of the edging
bright with lovely fur, and also his hood, which was drawn back from
his locks and laid on his shoulders; neat hose of that same green, well
pulled-up and clinging to his calf, and fine spurs of bright gold beneath,
on silk bands decorated very plentifully with bars, and the man rides there
without any shoes on his feet. And all his clothing was truly bright green,
both the decorative bars of his belt and other bright jewels which were
set plentifully in his splendid array, on silk embroidery about himself and
his saddle; [165] it would be too difficult to relate half the details that
were embroidered on it [i.e. his array], including birds and butterflies,
with bright green beadwork everywhere amongst the gold. The pendants
of his breast-harness, the splendid crupper, his bit-studs and all the metal
were enamelled thus , the stirrups that he stood on coloured the same,
and his saddle-bows all to match, and his glorious saddle-skirts, which
continuously shone and sparkled all with green gems. The horse that he
rides on completely of the same colour, certainly: a green horse great and
thick-set, a steed very powerful to control, restive in embroidered bridle;
he was very well-suited to the man.
[179] This man arrayed in green was very fine, and the hair of his head
matching that of his horse: lovely hair, spreading out like a fan, envelops
his shoulders. An abundant beard like a bush hangs over his chest, which
with his splendid hair that extends from his head was clipped all round
above his elbows, so that his upper arms were enclosed beneath it in the
manner of a king’s cape which encircles his neck; the mane of that great
horse much like it, well curled and combed, with very many knots plaited
with gold thread about the fine green, always a strand of the hair, another
of gold; [191] the tail and his forelock plaited to match and both bound
with a band of a bright green adorned with very precious stones, to the
end of the tuft, and then drawn up with a thong; an intricate knot at
the top, on which many glittering bells of pure gold were ringing. Such
a living horse, nor such a man as rides him, was never seen in that hall
before that time by any eye. His glance was as swift as lightning – so said
everyone who saw him. It seemed as if no man would be able to endure
under his blows.
[203] Yet he had no helmet or tunic of mail either, nor any throat-
armour nor any plate that pertained to armour, nor any spear or any
shield to thrust or to smite; but in his one hand he had a bunch of holly,
which is greenest when woods are bare, and in his other an axe, a huge
and monstrous one, a cruel battle-axe for anyone to describe in words.
The axe-head was as broad as the length of an ell-rod, the spike made
all of green steel and gold, the blade burnished bright, with a great edge
as well fashioned to cut as a sharp razor’s. The grim knight gripped it by
the handle, consisting of a strong staff which was bound with iron to the
end of the shaft and carved all over with pleasing designs in green; [217]
wrapped around it was a cord which was fastened at the head and then
looped many times along the handle, with many choice tassels attached
to it on very richly embroidered buttons of the bright green. This man
comes in and enters the hall, making for the high dais – he feared no
danger. He never greeted anyone but looked high over their heads. The
first word that he uttered, ‘Where,’ he said, ‘is the ruler of this company?
I would gladly set eyes on that man and have a conversation with him.’
He cast his eye on the knights and swaggered up and down. He paused
and pondered who had most renown there.
[232] There was gazing for a long time to behold the knight, for everyone
wondered what it might signify that a knight and a horse could take such
a colour as to grow as green as the grass and greener it seemed, shining
brighter than green enamel on gold. Everyone who was standing there
stared and cautiously approached him, with all the wonder on earth as
to what he would do. For they had seen many marvels but never such
a one before; and so the people there considered it illusion and magic.
[241] Therefore many a noble knight was afraid to answer, and all were
astounded by his voice and sat stone-still in a deathly silence throughout
the fine hall. Their voices died away as if they had all fallen asleep
suddenly – I judge it not wholly for fear but partly for courtesy – but
allowed him to whom all were duty bound to defer to address the man.
[250] Then Arthur, before the high dais, beholds that strange happening
and courteously greeted him, for he was not at all afraid, and said: ‘Sir,
welcome indeed to this dwelling. I, the head of this house, am called
Arthur. Kindly dismount and stay, I pray you, and whatever your wish is
we shall learn afterwards.’ ‘No, so help me He who sits on high,’ said the
knight, ‘it was not my mission to stay any time in this house; but because
your renown, sir, is built up to such a height and your castle and your
men are considered the best, the bravest to ride on steeds in armour, the
strongest and the worthiest of mankind, valiant to play with in other
noble games, and here courtesy is shown, as I have heard tell – and that
has brought me here, indeed, at this time. [265] You may be sure by this
branch that I bear here that I go in peace and seek no danger; for had
I set out in company, in battle array, I have at home a tunic of mail and
a helmet as well, a shield and a sharp spear, shining bright, and other
weapons to wield, I assure you, also; but because I wanted no fighting, my
clothes are softer. But if you are as bold as all men say, you will graciously
grant me the game that I ask for by right.’ Arthur answered and said:
‘Courteous knight, sir, if you ask for battle without armour, you will not
lack fighting here.’
[279] ‘No, I do not seek any fight, I tell you truly; there are only beardless
children about on this bench. If I were buckled in arms on a high steed,
there is no man here to match me, so weak are their powers. And so I
ask in this court for a Christmas game, for it is Yule and New Year, and
there many vigorous men here. If anyone in this house considers himself
so brave, to be so bold-spirited, so reckless of mind, that he dares boldly
strike one blow in return for another, I shall give him as a gift this rich
battle-axe, this axe, which is heavy enough, to handle as he likes, and I
shall endure the first blow, without armour as I sit. [291] If any warrior
be so daring as to put to the test what I propose, let him run quickly to me
and seize this weapon – I renounce it for ever, let him keep it as his own
– and shall stand a stroke from him, unflinching in this hall, provided that
you will ordain me the right to deal out another to him by agreement, and
moreover I give him respite until the same day a year hence. Now hurry,
and let us see at once if anyone here dares say anything.’
[301] If he stunned them at first, more motionless then were all the
retainers in the hall, the high and the low. The knight on his horse turned
in his saddle and fiercely rolled his red eyes about, arched his bristly
brows, shining green, waved his beard [i.e. turned his head from side to
side] to see if anyone would rise. When no one would hold speech with
him he coughed very loudly and cleared his throat very arrogantly and
proceeded to speak. ‘What, is this Arthur’s house,’ said the man then, ‘all
the fame of which flows through so many realms? [311] Where now is
your pride and your conquests, your ferocity and your wrath and your
boastful words? Now is the revelry and the renown of the Round Table
overthrown by a word of one man’s speech, for everyone is cowering in
fear without a blow being offered!’ With this he laughs so loudly that
the lord was offended; for shame the blood rushed into his fair face and
cheek; he grew as angry as the wind; so did all who were there. The king,
like the brave man he was by nature, then stood nearer that bold man,
[323] And said: ‘Sir, by heaven your request is foolish, and as you have
asked for foolishness, it behoves you to find it. I know no man who is
afraid of your boastful words. Give me now your battle-axe, for God’s
sake, and I shall grant your request that you have asked for.’ Swiftly he
springs towards him and received it from his hand. Then the other man
proudly alights on foot. Now Arthur has his axe and grips the handle
and fiercely brandishes it about, intending to strike with it. [332] The
bold man stood towering before him, taller than anyone in the house by
the head and more. With grim demeanour he stood there and stroked
his beard, and with an unmoved expression he drew down his tunic, no
more frightened or dismayed by his mighty blows than if any man on
the bench had brought him some wine to drink. Gawain, who sat by the
queen, bowed to the king: ‘I beseech you now with plain words that this
quarrel may be mine.’
[343] ‘If you would, noble lord,’ said Gawain to the king, ‘bid me to
come from this bench and stand by you there, so that I might leave this
table without discourtesy, and if that did not displease my sovereign lady,
I wish to give you advice before your noble court. For it seems to me it is
not seemly – as it is truly acknowledged – where such a request is raised so
loudly in your hall, for you to take it upon yourself, though you yourself
may be desirous of doing so, while many so bold sit about you on the
bench, that I think none on earth more resourceful in courage nor better
persons on the field where battle is raised. [354] I am the weakest, I know,
and the feeblest of wit, and my life would be the smallest loss, to tell the
truth. I am only praiseworthy in that you are my uncle; I acknowledge
no merit in my body but your blood. And since this matter is so foolish
that it does not befit you, and I have asked you for it first, assign it to me.
And if I speak unfittingly let all this noble court decide without reproach.’
Nobles whispered together; and then they advised with one accord: to
take the game away from the crowned king and give it to Gawain.
[366] Then the king commanded the knight to rise; and he rose very
promptly and prepared himself well, knelt down before the king and
takes that weapon. And he courteously relinquished it to him and lifted
up his hand and gave him God’s blessing, and cheerfully bids him that
both his heart and his hand should be bold. ‘Take care, kinsman,’ said
the king, ‘that you strike one blow, and if you deal with him properly, I
fully believe that you will stand the blow that he is to offer afterwards.’
Gawain goes to the knight with the battle-axe in his hand and he boldly
waits for him – he was dismayed none the more for that. [377] Then the
knight in green speaks to Gawain: ‘Let us restate our terms, before we go
further. First I entreat you, sir, that you tell me truly what you are called,
so that I may rely on it.’ ‘In good faith,’ said the good knight, ‘I am called
Gawain, who offer you this blow, whatever happens afterwards, and at
this time a year hence will take another from you with whatever weapon
you wish – and at the hands of no other living person.’ The other answers
in return: ‘Sir Gawain, so may I prosper, I am exceedingly glad that you
are to strike this blow.’
[390] ‘By God,’ said the green knight, ‘Sir Gawain, it pleases me that I
shall receive from your hand what I have asked for here. And you have
repeated without hesitation, in a correct statement, the whole of the
covenant that I asked the king for, except that you must promise me, sir,
on your word of honour, that you will look for me yourself, wherever on
earth you suppose I may be found, and take for yourself such payment
as you mete out to me today before this fine company.’ ‘Where should I
look for you?’ asked Gawain. ‘Where is your dwelling? I do not know at
all where you dwell, by Him that made me, nor do I know you, knight,
your court or your name. But direct me faithfully to it and tell me what
you are called, and I shall use all my wisdom to get myself there – and
that I swear you truly and by my firm word of honour.’ [404] ‘That is
enough for the New Year – no more is needed,’ said the knight in the
green to Gawain the noble. ‘If I tell you truly that when I have the blow
and you have deftly smitten me, if I promptly inform you about my house
and my home and my own name, then you may call on me and keep to
the agreement; and if I utter no speech then you will be better off, for you
may remain in your country and seek no further. But you are delaying!
Now take up your grim weapon and let us see how you strike.’ ‘Gladly,
sir, indeed,’ says Gawain; he strokes his axe.
[417] The green knight promptly takes his stand; with his head bent a
little, uncovers the flesh; he laid his beautiful long locks over his crown, let
the bare neck show in readiness. Gawain gripped his axe and heaves it up
on high; setting his left foot on the ground in front, he let it come down
quickly on the bare flesh, so that the man’s sharp blade sundered the bones
and sank through the fair flesh and severed it in two, so that the blade of
burnished steel bit into the ground. The fair head fell from the neck to the
ground, so that many kicked it with their feet where it rolled forward; the
blood spurted from the body, shining on the green. [430] And the man
neither faltered nor fell any the more for that but strongly leapt forward
on firm legs and roughly reached out where men were standing, seized
his comely head and lifted it up immediately, and then goes to his horse,
catches the bridle, steps into the stirrup and mounts, and holds his head in
his hand by the hair; and the knight seated himself in his saddle as firmly
as though no misfortune had troubled him, though now headless there.
He twisted his trunk around, that ugly body that bled. Many a one was
frightened of him by the time he had finished speaking.
[444] For he actually holds up the head in his hand, directs the face
towards the nobles on the dais; and it raised the eye-lids and looked with
eyes wide open, and spoke as follows with its mouth, as you may now
hear: ‘See to it, Gawain, that you are ready to go as you promised, and
search as faithfully, sir, until you find me, as you have promised in this hall,
while all these knights were listening. You make your way to the Green
Chapel, I charge you, to receive such a blow as you have meted out – you
have deserved it – to be punctually repaid on New Year’s morn. I am
widely known as the Knight of the Green Chapel; and so, if you inquire,
you will not fail to find me. [456] Therefore come, or you deserve to be
called cowardly.’ With a rough jerk he pulls on the reins, swept out at the
hall-door, his head in his hand, so that sparks from the flint cobbles flew
from the horse’s hooves. No one there knew what country he arrived at,
any more than they knew where he had come from. What then? The king
and Gawain there laugh and grin about that green man; yet it was openly
declared a marvel among those men.
[467] If Arthur the noble king was amazed at heart, he let no sign be
seen but said aloud with gracious speech to the fair queen: ‘Dear lady,
do not be perturbed on a day like this. Such artistry is certainly fitting
at Christmas – playing of interludes, laughing and singing – among the
courtly ring-dances performed by knights and ladies. Nevertheless I may
well proceed to my meal, for I have seen a wonder, I cannot deny.’ He
glanced at Sir Gawain and said aptly: ‘Now, sir, hang up your axe, which
has hewn enough.’ [478] And it was placed above the dais, to hang on
the tapestry, where everyone could look at it in amazement and relate the
wonder of it by true right. Then these men went to a table together, the
king and the good knight, and zealous men served them double portions
of all delicacies, in the noblest fashion possible, with all manner of food
and minstrelsy also. They spent that day in enjoyment until it came to
an end on earth. Now consider well, Sir Gawain, that you do not shrink
because of the danger from making trial of this quest which you have
undertaken.
II
[491] Arthur has received this gift of strange happenings in the beginning
of the young year because he yearned to hear valiant boasting. Though
such speeches were not forthcoming for him when they sat down, now
they are fully provided with formidable work, their hands cram-full.
Gawain was glad to begin those games in the hall, but if the outcome is
serious, do not be surprised: for though men are merry in spirit when they
have strong drink, a year passes very quickly and never delivers the same:
the beginning very seldom matches the end. And so this Yule passed, and
the year afterwards, and each season in turn followed after the other:
[502] after Christmas came harsh Lent, which tests the body with fish
and plainer food, but then the coming of spring [lit. nature’s weather]
contends with winter, frost shrinks into the earth [i.e. disappears], clouds
lift, bright falls the rain in warm showers, falls on fair lowlands, flowers
appear there, the clothes of both fields and woods are green, birds
proceed to build and sing gloriously for pleasure in the mild summer
that follows afterwards along hillsides, and blossoms swell to bloom by
splendid and luxuriant hedgerows; then many noble tunes are heard in
the lovely woods.
[516] After the season of spring with the gentle winds, when Zephyrus
[i.e. the west wind] himself blows on seeds and plants, very lovely is the
plant that grows from them [i.e. the seeds], when the moistening dew
drops from the leaves, to enjoy a blissful gleam from the bright sun. But
then Autumn hastens and soon puts heart into him [i.e. the plant], warns
him to grow fully ripe against the coming of winter; with drought he [i.e.
autumn] makes the dust rise, to fly high from the face of the earth. [525]
Angry wind from the sky wrestles with the sun, the leaves loosen from the
tree and fall to the ground, and the grass that was green before withers
completely; then everything that grew in the beginning ripens and rots,
and thus the year runs by in many yesterdays and winter comes back,
as nature demands, in truth, until the moon of Michaelmas was come
with pledge of winter. Then Gawain shortly thinks about his arduous
journey.
[536] Yet until All Saints’ Day he remains with Arthur, who made a
celebration on that festival in honour of the knight, with great and noble
revelry of the Round Table. Courteous knights and fair ladies were all in a
state of anxiety for the sake of that man; but nevertheless they mentioned
only pleasant subjects: many who were joyless on account of that noble
knight made jokes there. For after the meal he talks to his uncle with
sorrow and speaks of his journey, and he said openly: ‘Now, liege lord of
my life, I ask leave of you. You know the nature of this matter; I do not
care to relate the troubles of it any more to you – it would only be idle
talk – but I am setting off for the blow tomorrow without fail, to look for
the green man, as God sees fit to guide me.’ [550] Then the nobles of the
castle came together, Ywain and Eric and many others – Sir Dodinal de
Savage, the Duke of Clarence, Lancelot and Lionel and Lucan the good,
Sir Bors and Sir Bedevere, both strong men, and many other nobles, with
Mador de la Port. All this company of the court approached the king to
counsel the knight, with sorrow in their hearts. There was much painful
sorrow suffered in the hall that one so valuable as Gawain should have
to go on that mission, to suffer a grievous blow and give none in return
with his sword. The knight kept a good countenance throughout and said:
‘Why should I hesitate? What can one do but make trial of what Destiny
offers, whether painful or pleasant?’
[566] He remains there all that day and dresses in the morning, asks
early for his arms, and they were all brought. First a carpet of rich red
fabric was spread over the floor, and abundant was the gilded armour
that gleamed from it. The bold man steps on it and handles the arms,
dressed in a doublet of precious fabric, and then a skilfully-made cape,
fastened at the top, which was trimmed with beautiful fur inside. Then
they placed the steel shoes upon the knight’s feet; his legs were enclosed
in steel by beautiful greaves, to which were attached brightly polished
knee-pieces, fastened about his knees with clasps of gold; [578] then fine
thigh-pieces, which gracefully enclosed his thick muscular thighs, fastened
with laces; and then the linked coat of mail of bright steel rings upon fine
material enveloped that knight, and well burnished arm-pieces upon both
his arms, with good and fine elbow-pieces and gauntlets of metal plate,
and all the goodly armour which was to benefit him at that time; with
a splendid surcoat, his gold spurs fastened with pride, he was girt with a
very reliable sword with a silk girdle round his waist.
[590] When he was buckled into his armour, his accoutrements were
splendid: the smallest lace or loop gleamed with gold. Thus, armed as he
was, he hears his mass offered and celebrated at the high altar. Afterwards
he comes to the king and his fellow courtiers, takes his leave of lords and
ladies in a friendly manner, and they kissed him and escorted him on his
way, and commended him to Christ. By that time Gringolet was prepared
and girt with a saddle which gleamed very splendidly with many gold
fringes, everywhere studded entirely anew, prepared for that business,
the bridle decorated around with bars, trimmed with bright gold. The
adornment of the breast-harness and of the splendid saddle-skirts, the

crupper, and the caparison, matched the saddle-bows. [603] And it was
all costly gold studs, set upon a red background, which glittered and
shone like the radiance of the sun. Then he takes and quickly kisses the
helmet, which was stapled firmly and padded on the inside. It was high
on his head, fastened behind, with a brilliant band of silk over the neck-
guard, embroidered and adorned with the best gems on a broad silken
band, and birds on the hems, such as parrots depicted among periwinkles,
turtle-doves and true-love knots embroidered so densely that it was as
though many a lady had been working at it for seven winters at court.
The circlet which ringed his head was even more valuable, with perfect
diamonds which were both clear and brown [i.e. of all tints].
[619] Then they showed him the shield, which was of bright gules [i.e.
heraldic red] with the pentangle painted in pure gold hues; he takes it
by the baldrick, slings it round his neck; that suited the knight well in an
apt manner. And why the pentangle appertains to that noble prince I am
minded to tell you, though it will delay me. It is a symbol that Solomon
invented formerly as a sign of truth, by its intrinsic right; for it is a figure
that possesses five points, and each line interlaces with and joins on to
the others, and everywhere it is endless, and English people in all parts, I
am told, call it ‘the endless knot’. [631] Therefore it matches this knight
and his spotless arms, for, always trustworthy in five ways, and five times
in each way, Gawain was known as a virtuous knight and, like refined
gold, free from all baseness, adorned with virtues in the castle. And so he
newly bore the pentangle on his shield and surcoat, as a man most true
of words and a knight most noble of conduct.
[640] First he was found faultless in his five senses, and likewise the
knight never failed in his five fingers, and all his trust upon earth was
in the five wounds that Christ received on the cross, as the Creed tells.
And wherever this man found himself in battle, his earnest intent was on
this, above all else: that he should get all his fortitude from the five joys
that the gracious Queen of Heaven had in her Child. (For this reason
the knight had her image fittingly painted on the inner side of his shield,
so that when he glanced at it his courage never diminished.) The fifth
five that I find that the knight practised was liberality and brotherly love
above all things; his cleanness and his courtesy were never defective,
and compassion that surpasses all virtues – these perfect five were more
firmly fastened to that knight than to any other. [656] Now all these five
groups [of five] were indeed fixed on this knight and each one interlaced
with another, so that none came to an end, and were established on five
points that never failed, nor were ever brought together in any side, nor
separated either, without end in any angle that I find anywhere, where
the process ever began or came to an end. Therefore on his bright shield
was fashioned, royally with red gold upon heraldic red, the knot which
is called by learned people the perfect ‘pentangle’. Now noble Gawain
is prepared and took his lance right then, and wished them all good day
– he thought for ever.
[670] He struck the steed with the spurs and sprang on his way so
vigorously that the flint-sparks flew out behind. All who saw that handsome
knight sighed in their hearts, and people with one accord said softly to
each other, sorrowing for that noble one: ‘By Christ, it is a pity that you,
sir, should be lost, you who are so noble of life! It is, truly, not easy to find
his equal on earth. It would have made more sense to have acted more
cautiously, and have ordained yonder noble one to have become a duke.
It becomes him to be a brilliant leader of men in the land, and it would
have been better so than for him to be utterly destroyed, beheaded by an
other-worldly man, for arrogant pride. [682] Who ever knew any king to
take such advice as that of knights in trivial arguments about Christmas
games?’ The warm tears that flowed from eyes were very abundant when
that fine lord left that abode that day. He made no delay but swiftly went
on his way. He rode many uncertain paths, as I learned from the book.
[691] Now this knight, Sir Gawain, rides through the kingdom of
Britain, in the cause of God, though it seemed no game to him – often
companionless he remains alone at night where he did not find the food
that he liked before him; he had no companion but his horse by woods and
downs, nor anyone but God to talk with on the way – till he approached
very near to North Wales. He keeps all the isles of Anglesey on the left
side and goes over the fords by the headlands, across at Holywell, till he
reached the shore again in the wild country of Wirral. Very few lived
there whom either God or a good-hearted man loved. [703] And always,
as he travelled, he asked men that he met if they had heard any talk of a
green knight of the Green Chapel in any region thereabouts. And all said
‘No!’ to him – that never in their lives did they ever see a man of such
green hues. The knight took strange ways on many a cheerless slope. His
mood changed many times before he could see that chapel.
[713] He climbed over many cliffs in strange regions. Having wandered

far from his friends, he rides as a stranger. At every ford or stream where
the knight passed it was a wonder if he did not find a foe in front of him,
and that so ugly and so fierce that he was obliged to fight. The man finds
so many marvels there among the hills, it would be too difficult to tell
the tenth part of them. Sometimes he fights with dragons and also with
wolves, sometimes with men of the woods that lived in the crags, with
both bulls and bears, and boars at other times, and giants that pursued
him from the high fell. If he had not been brave and long-suffering, and
if he had not served God, there are many occasions when he would
doubtless have been killed. [726] For fighting did not trouble him so
much that winter was not worse, when the cold clear water was shed from
the clouds and froze before it might fall to the faded earth; nearly slain by
the sleet, he slept in his armour more nights than enough, on bare rocks
where the cold burn runs clattering from the crest, and the frozen water
hung high over his head in hard icicles. Thus in peril and pain and severe
conditions, this knight rides across country till Christmas Eve, alone. At
that time the knight certainly made his lamentation to Mary, that she
would direct his course and guide him to some dwelling.
[740] In the morning he rides briskly by a hill into a deep forest that was
exceedingly wild, high hills on each side and below woods of huge old
oaks, a hundred together. The hazel and the hawthorn were entwined
together, with rough ragged moss spread everywhere, with many unhappy
birds which piteously piped on bare twigs for the pain of the cold. The
knight upon Gringolet glides under them through many a marsh and
mire, a man all alone, concerned about his circumstances, in case he
should not manage to see the service of that Lord who on that same
night was born of a maiden to end our enmity [i.e. with God]. [753]
And therefore, sighing, he said: ‘I beseech You, Lord, and Mary, who is
the mildest mother so dear, for some lodging where I might solemnly hear
mass and Your matins tomorrow, I meekly ask, and accordingly promptly
I pray my Lord’s Prayer, Ave Maria, and Creed.’ He rode in prayer and
wept for his sin. He crossed himself several times and said: ‘Christ’s cross
speed me.’
[763] The knight had not crossed himself but thrice before he was aware
in the wood of a dwelling within a moat, above a glade, on a mound,
framed under the boughs of many huge trunks round about the ditches,
the finest castle that a knight ever owned, set in a meadow, a park all
about, fenced in by a close palisade of spikes, which enclosed many trees
for more than two miles around. The knight beheld that stronghold from
one side, as it shimmered and shone through the bright oaks. [773] Then
he respectfully takes off his helmet and solemnly thanks Jesus and St
Julian, who are both kindly, who had treated him courteously and listened
to his cry. ‘Now,’ said the knight, ‘I beseech you to grant good lodging!’
Then he spurs on Gringolet with his gilt spurs, and he most fortuitously
has chosen the main way, that quickly brought the knight to the end of
the bridge in haste. The drawbridge was firmly raised; the gates were
securely shut; the walls were well constructed – it [i.e. the castle] feared
no wind’s blast.
[785] The horseman tarried, waiting on the bank of the deep double
ditch which surrounded the house. The wall went down in the water
amazingly deep and it swept aloft again a huge height, made of hard
cut stone up to the cornices, fortified under the battlements in the
best style; and then very fine watch-towers arrayed at intervals, with
many excellent loop-holes that fastened very neatly; that knight never
gazed upon a better barbican. And farther in he beheld the high hall,
towers set up here and there, crocketed very thickly, fair pinnacles that
joined exactly [to the towers below], and wonderfully tall, with carved
finials, skilfully intricate. [798] There he perceived many chalk-white
chimneys, that shone very white upon roofs of towers. So many painted
pinnacles were scattered everywhere among battlements of the castle,
clustered so thickly, that it looked as if it were all completely cut out of
paper. The noble knight on the horse thought it fair enough, if only he
might manage to get inside the bailey, to lodge pleasantly in that house
while the festival lasted. He called, and soon there came a perfectly
obliging porter; on the wall he received his petition and greeted the
questing knight.
[811] ‘Good sir,’ said Gawain, ‘would you go on an errand for me to the
noble lord of this house, to ask for lodging?’ ‘Yes, by St Peter!’ said the
porter, ‘and truly I believe that you are welcome, sir, to stay as long as
it pleases you.’ Then the man went eagerly and quickly came back, and
people readily with him to welcome the knight. They let down the great
drawbridge and courteously went out, and knelt down on their knees on
the cold earth to welcome this same knight in the way which seemed
proper to them. They allowed him through the great gate, opened wide,
and he courteously asked them to rise and rode over the bridge. Several
men held his saddle while he dismounted, and then many bold men
stabled his steed. Knights and squires came down then to bring this man
into the hall with joy. [826] When he lifted up his helmet many people
hastened to take it from his hand, to serve the gracious knight; they took
both his sword and his shield. Then he greeted each of those men very
courteously, and many a proud man there pressed forward to honour that
prince. They took him, all buckled into his armour, to the castle, where
a fine fire burned fiercely in the hall. Then the lord of the people comes
down from his chamber to meet the man on the floor with honour. He
said: ‘You are welcome to enjoy whatever is here, as you please; it is all
your own to have and use as you wish.’ ‘Many thanks,’ said Gawain; ‘may
Christ reward you for it.’ In the manner of joyful men, each folded the
other in his arms.
[842] Gawain looked at the man who graciously greeted him, and
thought him who owned the castle a bold knight, a huge man indeed,
and of mature age. His beard was broad and bright and all beaver-
coloured; powerful, firm of stance on mighty legs; face as fierce as fire,
and courteous of speech; and it appeared to the knight [i.e. Gawain] that
he was certainly a suitable person to exercise sovereignty in the castle
over excellent men. The lord turned aside to a chamber and solicitously
orders that a man should be assigned to him, to serve him humbly; and
there were ready at his bidding plenty of men who brought him to a
bright bedroom where the bed-clothes were splendid: bed-curtains of
pure silk with bright gold hems, and rare counterpanes with fine edging
of bright ermine on top, embroidered round about, curtains running on
ropes, with red gold rings, tapestries of rich fabrics from Toulouse and
Tharsia spread on the wall, and under foot, on the floor, to match. [860]
There the knight was divested of his coat of mail and of his armour,
with cheerful talk; men promptly brought rich robes, to put on and to
change and choose the best. As soon as he had taken one and had it on
– one which looked well on him, with flowing skirts – truly it seemed
to everyone from his appearance almost as if spring had come in all its
colours, all his limbs under the garment shining and beautiful; it seemed
to them that Christ never made a finer knight. Wherever in the world he
was from, it seemed that he might be a peerless prince in the field where
fierce men fought.
[875] Before the fireplace, where charcoal burned, a chair was promptly
prepared for Gawain, with coverings – cushions upon quilted seats
– which were both skilfully made; and then a fine mantle was put on
that man, of a brown silk, embroidered most splendidly, and well lined
on the inside with the best of furs, all of the best ermine on earth, his
hood of the same material. And he sat in that becomingly splendid seat
and warmed himself quickly, and then his mood improved. Soon a table
was set up on fine trestles, covered with a clean cloth that showed pure
white, napkin and salt-cellar and silver spoons. [887] The knight washed
as he wished and went to his meal. Men served him very becomingly with
various excellent broths, seasoned in the best manner, in double helpings,
as it befitted, and many kinds of fish – some baked in bread, some grilled
on the embers, some boiled, some in broth flavoured with spices – and in
each case sauces so subtle that the knight was pleased. The knight very
courteously and graciously called it a feast again and again, when all
together the men, equally courteously, exhorted him: ‘Take this penance
now and next time it will improve.’ That man made much mirth because
of the wine that went to his head.
[901] Then inquiry was made in a tactful manner, by discreet questions

put to that prince, so that he courteously acknowledged that he was
from the court that noble Arthur the gracious governs alone, who is the
splendid royal king of the Round Table, and it was Gawain himself who
sits in that house, come to that Christmas feast, as chance then befell him.
When the lord had learned that he had the knight, he laughed loudly
about it, so delightful it seemed to him, and all the men in that castle
made great joy to appear in his presence readily at that time, to whose
person all excellence and prowess and refined manners belong and who
is always praised, and whose honour is greater than that of all men on
earth. [915] Each man said very softly to his companion: ‘Now shall we
see becomingly skilled demonstrations of courteous manners and the
faultless expressions of noble conversation. We can learn, without asking,
what sort of thing success in conversation is, since we have welcomed
that excellent father of good breeding. God has indeed generously given
us His grace, who allows us to receive such a guest as Gawain, when
men will sit and sing, rejoicing in His birth. This man will now bring us
to an understanding of noble manners. I believe that anyone who has
the opportunity of listening to him will learn something of the art of
conversing about love.’
[928] By the time dinner was over and the noble knight had risen, it
was nearly night-time. Chaplains made their way to the chapels, rang
the bells most nobly, just as they should, to the glorious evensong of
the festival. The lord goes to it, and the lady also; she gracefully enters
into a fine closed pew. Gawain hurries along very happily and makes his
way at once. The lord takes him by the sleeve and leads him to sit, and
acknowledges him familiarly and calls him by his name, and said he was
the most welcome man in the world. And he thanked him earnestly; and
they embraced each other and sat together quietly during the service.
[941] Then it pleased the lady to look at the knight; then she came from
her closed pew with many fair ladies. She was the most beautiful creature
alive in respect of flesh, face, figure, complexion, and deportment, and
lovelier than Guinevere, the knight thought. She made her way through
the chancel to greet that noble knight. Another lady led her by the left
hand, who was older than she was, an aged woman it seemed, and
highly honoured by men about her. But those ladies were dissimilar in
appearance: for if the young one was blooming, the other was sallow; a
glowing pink everywhere adorned the first one, rough wrinkled cheeks
sagged on the other; the first lady’s kerchiefs [were adorned] with many
bright pearls; her breast and her bright throat, exposed bare, shone
more brightly than snow which falls on hills; [957] the other was attired
over the neck with a neckerchief, muffled up over her swarthy chin with
chalk-white veils, her forehead wrapped in silk, swathed everywhere,
with embroidered hems and lattice work covered in fine stitching, so that
nothing of that lady was bare but the black brows, the two eyes and the
nose, the naked lips, and those were disagreeable to see and exceedingly
bleared. A charming lady on earth one may call her, by God! Her body
was short and thick, her buttocks rounded and broad; more delicious to
taste was that which she had with her.
[970] When Gawain saw that fair lady who looked graciously [at him],
having excused himself from the lord, he went towards them. The elder
he greets, bowing very low; the lovelier he embraces in his arms a little.
He kisses her fittingly and speaks in a courtly manner. They beg the
favour of his company and he swiftly asks to be their servant truly if it

pleased them. They take him between them and, making conversation,
lead him to the private room, to the fireplace, and quickly they ask
for spiced cakes, which servants sped to bring them in plenty, and the
pleasant wine with them each time. [981] The lord often leaps to his feet
in a friendly manner, reminding them over and over again to make merry,
ceremoniously took off his hood and hung it on a spear, and directed
that those who devised most amusement during Christmas were to win it
as a trophy: ‘And, on my honour, I shall try with the help of my friends
to contend with the best, before I lose the garment.’ Thus with laughing
words the lord makes merry, to gladden Sir Gawain with games in hall
that night, until it was time the lord ordered lights. Gawain took his leave
and directed himself to bed.
[995] On the morrow, as every man remembers that time when the Lord
was born to die for our destiny, joy grows in every dwelling on earth for
His sake. So it did there on that day, through many delicacies: both at
breakfast and at dinner, bold men arranged very skilfully made dishes
on the dais in the best manner. The venerable old lady sits in the place
of honour; the lord courteously took his place beside her, as I believe.
Gawain and the beautiful lady sat together right in the centre, where
the food properly came, and afterwards went around the whole hall, as
seemed most fitting to them, until each man was duly served according
to his rank. [1007] There was food, there was mirth, there was great
joy, so that I would have difficulty to tell of it, even if, perhaps, I were
to take pains to describe it in detail. But still I know that Gawain and
the delightful lady found such pleasure in each other’s company through
the pleasant courtly conversation of their confidential words, with chaste
courteous speech free from impurity, that their pleasant occupation
surpassed the pleasure of any nobleman there, in truth. Trumpets,
kettledrums, and much piping were present there. Each man attended to
his own pleasure, and those two attended to theirs.
[1020] Much merriment was made there that day and the second, and
the third, just as hectic, hastened in afterwards – the joy of St John’s
day was excellent to hear, and people there intended that it was the
last of the holiday. Those who were guests there were due to go in the
grey morning; therefore they stayed up amazingly late, drank wine, and
incessantly danced their favourite ring-dances. At last, when it was late,
they take their leave, each one who was a visitor to go on his way. Gawain
said goodbye to him [i.e. the host]; the host seizes him, leads him to his
own private room, beside the fireplace, and there he holds him back
and heartily thanks him for the delightful honour that he had brought
him, to honour his house in that festive season and grace his castle with
his gracious demeanour. [1035] ‘Indeed, sir, it will be the better for me
as long as I live that Gawain has been my guest at God’s own festival.’
‘Many thanks, sir,’ said Gawain, ‘in good faith it is yours, all the honour
is your own – may the supreme King reward you – and I am, sir, at your
command, to do your bidding, as I am bound to, in great things and in
small, by obligation.’ The lord earnestly endeavoured to keep the knight
longer; Gawain answers him that he could by no means stay longer.
[1046] Then the man asked him very courteously what terrible deed had
compelled him to ride away so eagerly from the king’s court all by himself
at that festal time, before the holidays were completely over. ‘Indeed, sir,’
said the knight, ‘you speak only the truth. A great and urgent mission
drew me from that abode, for I myself am summoned to seek a place, and
I do not know whatever direction in the world to go to find it. I would not
fail to reach it on New Year’s morning for all the land in Britain, so help
me our Lord! Therefore, sir, I ask you this question here: that you tell me
truly if ever you heard an account of the Green Chapel, where it stands
on the ground, and of the knight coloured green who holds it. [1060] An
appointment was established by agreement between us, for me to meet
that man at that rendezvous, if I happened to live so long; and there is
but little time until that same New Year, and I would see that knight, if
God will allow me, more gladly, by Christ, than possess any good thing!
Therefore, indeed, if you please, I am obliged to go; I now have barely
three days to bestir myself, and I would be as glad to fall down dead as
to fail in my mission.’ Then the lord said with a laugh: ‘Now it behoves
you to stay, for I shall direct you to that trysting place before the time
expires. Let the whereabouts of the Green Chapel bother you no more;
but you shall remain in your bed, sir, at your ease, until well on in the
day, and leave on the first day of the year, and come to that rendezvous
at mid-morning, to do what you like there. Remain until New Year’s Day,
and rise and depart then. You shall be put on the right road; it is not two
miles from here.’
[1079] Then Gawain was very glad and he laughed happily: ‘Now I
thank you heartily beyond all your other kindnesses. Now my adventure
is accomplished, I shall remain at your command and in other ways do
what you think fit.’ Then the lord seized him and sat him down beside
himself, and sent for the ladies for their greater enjoyment. There was
seemly pleasure by themselves in private; the lord uttered such merry
words in friendship that he seemed like a man who was about to go off his
head, who didn’t know what he might do. Then he spoke to the knight, in
a loud voice: ‘You have agreed to do whatever I command – will you keep
this promise here and now?’ ‘Yes, sir, indeed,’ said the faithful knight,
‘while I stay in your castle I shall be obedient to your command.’ [1093]
‘As you have had a hard journey,’ said the man, ‘and have come from
afar, and have since stayed up late with me, you are not well recovered
in respect either of sustenance or of sleep, I know for a fact. You shall
remain in your bedroom and lie at your ease tomorrow morning until the
time of Mass, and go to your meal when you wish with my wife, who will
sit with you and amuse you with company until I return to court. You stay
and I shall rise early; I intend to go hunting.’ Gawain agreed to all this,
bowing, like the courteous man he was.
[1105] ‘Yet further,’ said the man, ‘let us make an agreement: whatever
I win in the forest becomes yours, and you give me in exchange for it
whatever bad luck you have. My dear sir, let us strike a bargain on these
terms: to answer honourably, to whichever man may fall the worse lot or
the better.’ ‘By God,’ said Gawain the good, ‘I agree to it; and it seems
delightful to me that it pleases you to play.’ ‘If someone will bring us the
drink [to pledge our word], this bargain is made’ – so said the lord of
that people; everyone laughed. [1114] They drank and conversed and
behaved freely, these lords and ladies, as long as they pleased, and then
with refined manners and many courteous words they stood and lingered
and spoke quietly, kissed most courteously, and took their leave. With
many energetic servants and gleaming torches, every man was brought
to his bed at last in great comfort. Before they went to bed, they often
repeated the terms of the agreement; he who had long been lord of that
people certainly knew how to keep up the fun.
III
[1126] Very early before the day dawned the people got up. Guests who
wanted to go called their servants, and they hasten up immediately to
saddle horses, prepare their gear, and pack their bags; the nobles prepare
themselves, all dressed to ride, quickly mount, seize their bridles, each
man on his way to where it well pleased him. The dear lord of the
land was not the last dressed for riding with many men; he ate a morsel
quickly, after he had heard mass; he goes swiftly to the hunting-field
carrying a horn. By the time that any daylight shone upon the earth,
he and his men were on great horses. [1139] Then huntsmen who were
expert leashed their hounds in pairs, opened the kennel door and called
them outside, blew three single notes powerfully on their horns. Hounds
bayed in response, and made a fierce noise; and they controlled and
turned back the hounds that chased false scents, a hundred huntsmen of
the best, as I have heard tell. Keepers of hounds went to their hunting-
stations, huntsmen took off the leashes; there arose a great noise in that
forest on account of the good blasts (of the horn).
[1150] At the first sound of the baying [of hounds on the scent] the
wild animals trembled. Deer hurtled into the valley, frenzied with fear,
hastened to the high ground, but they were quickly turned back by the
ring of beaters, who shouted loudly. Then they allowed the stags with the
high heads to pass, also the wild bucks with their broad antlers; for the
noble lord had forbidden that any man should rouse any male deer in
the close-season. The hinds were held in with cries of ‘Hay!’ and ‘War!’
The does poured with a great noise into the deep valleys. There could
be seen the slanting flight of arrows as they were loosed; at every turning
in the wood an arrow swished, burying their broad heads deep in the
brown flesh. [1163] Oh! they bray and bleed, they die on hillsides, and
all the time hounds pursue them in a headlong chase, huntsmen with loud
horns hastened after them, with a ringing sound as if rocks were splitting.
Any animal that escaped the archers was pulled down and slaughtered at
the receiving stations, when they had been harassed on the heights and
driven down to the streams, so skilful were the men at the low hunting
stations; and so huge were the greyhounds that they quickly seized them
and pulled them down as fast as men could turn and look. The lord,
transported with delight, galloped forward and dismounted again and
again, and passed that day with joy thus until the dark night.
[1178] Thus the lord amuses himself along the edges of the forest, and
Gawain the good man lies in a fine bed, stays snug until the daylight
shone on the walls, under a lovely counterpane, with curtains around.
And as he dozed [lit. drifted in sleep], he heard a little stealthy sound at
his door and [heard it] quickly open; and he raises his head up out of the
clothes, lifted up the corner of the curtain a little, and looks warily in that
direction [to see] what it might be. It was the lady, loveliest to behold, who
drew the door after her secretly and silently, and came towards the bed;
and the man was embarrassed, and lay down cunningly and pretended
to be asleep. [1191] And she stepped quietly and stole to his bed, opened
the curtain and crept inside, and sat herself very softly on the bedside,
and remained there an exceedingly long time to see when he would wake
up. The man lay snuggled down a very long time, pondered in his mind
what the circumstance could portend or signify. It seemed amazing to
him; but yet he said to himself: ‘It would be more seemly, by talking to her,
to discover in due course what she wants.’ Then he stirred and stretched
and turned towards her, and opened his eyelids and behaved as though
he was surprised, and crossed himself with his hand, as if to become the
safer by his (silent) prayer. With very lovely chin and cheek, both white
and red together, she spoke very amiably with slender laughing lips.
[1208] ‘Good morning, Sir Gawain,’ said that fair lady, ‘you are an
unwary sleeper, that one may slip in here. Now you are captured in a
moment! Unless we can arrange a truce between ourselves, I shall bind
you in your bed – be sure of that.’ All laughing, the lady uttered those
jests. ‘Good morning, fair lady,’ said the joyful Gawain, ‘my fate shall be
as you determine, and that pleases me well, for I yield myself promptly
and cry out for mercy; and that is best, in my opinion, for I am obliged
of necessity!’ (And thus he jested in return with much happy laughter.)
‘But if you, lovely lady, would then grant me permission, and release your
prisoner and ask him to rise, I would leave this bed and dress myself better;
I should take more pleasure in talking with you.’ [1222] ‘No indeed, fine
sir,’ said that sweet lady, ‘you shall not rise from your bed. I give you better
instructions: I shall imprison you here on the other side too, and then talk
with my knight whom I have caught. For I am well aware, indeed, you
are Sir Gawain, whom all the world honours; wherever you ride, your
honour, your courtesy is graciously praised by lords, by ladies, by all who
live. And now you are here, indeed, and are we quite by ourselves; my
lord and his men have gone a long way off, other men are in their beds,
and my ladies too, the door is shut and fastened with a strong latch; and
since I have in this house him who pleases everyone, I shall make good
use of my time, while it lasts, with conversation. You are welcome to me
[lit. to my body], to take your own pleasure; I must of pure necessity be
your servant, and shall be.’
[1241] ‘In good faith,’ said Gawain, ‘that seems agreeable to me. Though
I am not he of whom you now speak – I am a man unworthy to attain
such an honour as you have just mentioned, I myself know well – by God,
I should be glad if you saw fit that I should devote myself, by word or
deed, to obliging your worthy self; it would be a sheer delight.’ ‘In good
faith, Sir Gawain,’ said the fair lady, ‘if I disparaged or made little of the
exellence and the prowess that pleases everyone else, it would be small
courtesy. [1251] But there are many ladies who would rather now have
you, gracious knight, in their grasp, as I have you here – to make courtly
play with your charming words, to find solace for themselves and assuage
their longings – than much of the treasure or gold that they have. But I
praise that very Lord who rules the heavens that I have wholly in my hand
what everyone desires, through grace.’ She who was so fair of face made
him such a great welcome. The knight answered everything she chanced
to say with innocent speeches.
[1263] ‘Madam,’ said the handsome man, ‘Mary reward you, for I have
found, in good faith, your liberality noble; and some people take their
mode of conduct a good deal from others; but the honour they bestow is
not at all my deserving – it does credit to yourself, revealing the goodness
of your own heart [lit. who can only behave generously].’ ‘By Mary,’ said
the noble lady, ‘it seems to me otherwise; for were I worth all the multitude
of women alive, and all the prosperity of the world were in my hand, and
I should haggle and choose to get myself a husband, for the qualities that
I have perceived in you, knight, here, of good looks and graciousness and
joyful demeanour – for this is what I have heard before and now believe it
to be true – there should be no man on earth chosen before you.’ [1276]
‘Indeed, worthy lady,’ said the knight, ‘you have chosen much better; but
I am proud of the value that you place on me and, solemnly [as] your
servant, I consider you my sovereign [lady] and become your knight, and
may Christ recompense you.’ Thus they spoke of many things until mid-
morning passed, and all the time the lady behaved as if she loved him a
great deal. The man acted guardedly and behaved most politely; though
she may have been the loveliest lady the knight had ever known [lit.
remembered], he had brought with him so much the less love because of
the penalty he was going to meet forthwith – the blow that should strike
him down, and cannot be avoided [lit. and needs it must be done]. The
lady then spoke of leaving; he consented immediately.
[1290] Then she wished him good day, and laughed with a twinkle, and
as she stood she astounded him with her severe words: ‘Now may He
who prospers every speech reward you for this pleasure, only it is hard to
believe that you are Gawain!’ ‘Why?’ said the man, and he asks eagerly,
afraid that he had fallen short in the manner of his speeches. But the lady
exclaimed ‘God bless you’ and said: ‘For this reason: anyone as good as
Gawain is rightly considered to be, and in whom courtesy is so completely
embodied, could not easily have stayed so long with a lady without
asking for a kiss through his courtesy, by some trifling hint at the end
of a speech.’ Then Gawain said: ‘Indeed, let it be as you please; I shall
kiss at your command, as befits a knight, and, in addition, lest he should
displease you; so urge it no more.’ [1305] With that she comes nearer
and takes him in her arms, bends down graciously and kisses the knight.
They courteously commend each other to Christ; she goes out at the
door without any further sound, and he prepares to rise and immediately
hurries, calls to his manservant, chooses his clothing, goes out, when he
was ready, gladly to mass; and then he proceeded to his meal, that fittingly
awaited him, and enjoyed himself all day, with merriment, until the moon
rose. A man was never better received between two such noble ladies, the
elder and the younger; they found much pleasure together.
[1319] And all the time the lord of the land is away at his sport, hunting
the barren hinds in woods and heath. He had killed there such a quantity
of does and other deer by the time the sun went down, it would be
wonderful to assess. Then at last the people spiritedly assembled, and
quickly made a heap of game from the slaughtered deer. Those of highest
rank went there with many men, gathered the plumpest that were there,
and had them gracefully cut open in the prescribed manner. Some who
were there examined them at the ‘assay’; they found two fingers’ breadth
of flesh on the poorest of them all. Then they slit the hollow at the base
of the throat, took hold of the gullet, scraped it with a sharp knife, and
tied up the flesh. Then they slit along the four legs and stripped off the
hide; they opened the belly, drew the bowels carefully to avoid undoing
the ligature of the knot. [1335] They seized the throat and properly
separated the gullet from the wind-pipe and tossed out the guts. They
cut out the shoulder-joints with their sharp knives, drawing them through
a small hole so as to keep the sides intact; then they cut the breast and
divided it in two. And then one of them begins once again at the neck,
quickly cuts the carcase open right to the fork, removes the neck offal
and truly after that they promptly loosen all the membranes on the ribs;
thus they correctly clear out the offal along the bones of the back right
down to the haunch, so that it all hung together, and they lift it up quite
intact and cut it off there – and that, I believe, they properly designate
the ‘numbles’. Then they loosen the folds of skin behind the fork of the
thighs; they make haste to cut the carcase in two, dividing it along the
backbone.
[1353] Then they cut off both the head and the neck, and next they
separate the sides swiftly from the backbone, and throw the ‘raven’s fee’
into a thicket. Then they pierced each thick side through by the ribs,
and then hung each by the hocks of the haunches, each man receiving
what befits him for his fee. Upon a skin of the fine beast they feed their
hounds with the liver and the lungs, the lining of the stomachs, and bread
soaked in blood mingled with it. [1362] They vigorously blew ‘capture’,
their hounds bayed; then they took their venison, packed up for home,
sounding very loudly many powerful notes on the horn. By the time
daylight was finished, the company had all come into the fine castle,
where the knight waits quietly, with joy and a bright fire kindled. The
lord comes to that place: when Gawain met with him, there was all the
happiness that could be desired.
[1372] Then the lord commanded all the company to assemble in that
hall, both the ladies to come down with their women. In front of all the
people in the hall he bids men faithfully to fetch his venison before him;
and most graciously, in merriment, he called Gawain, directs his attention
to the number [lit. tails] of extremely well-grown beasts, shows him the
bright meat cut on the ribs: ‘How does this sport please you? Have I won
renown? Have I abundantly deserved thanks by means of my skill?’ ‘Yes
indeed,’ said the other man, ‘this is the finest catch that I have seen for
many a year [lit. seven years] in the season of winter.’ ‘And I give it all to
you, Gawain,’ said the man then, ‘for by the agreement of the covenant
you may claim it as your own.’ ‘This is true,’ said the man; ‘I say the
same to you: that which I have honourably won within this abode shall
indeed with as good a will become yours.’ [1387] He clasps his fair neck
within his arms and kisses him as courteously as he could contrive: ‘There
take my winnings; I got no more. I bestow it completely and would do so
even if there were more.’ ‘It is good,’ said the host, ‘thank you for that.
It may be of such a nature that it would turn out to be the better prize,
if you would tell me from whom you won this good fortune by your own
cleverness.’ ‘That was not in our agreement,’ said he; ‘ask me no more,
for you have received what is due to you; rest assured you cannot have
anything else.’ They laughed and made merry with admirable speeches.
They immediately went to supper, with many new delicacies.
[1402] And afterwards they sat by the fireplace in the private room,
servants brought excellent wine to them frequently, and again in their
jesting they agree to carry out on the next day the same terms that they
had made before: whatever fortune happens, to exchange their winnings,
whatever new thing they received, when they met at night. They agreed
to the conditions before all the court – the drink was brought forth in jest
at that time – then they took leave at last in a friendly manner; each man
went quickly to his bed. [1412] By the time that the cock had crowed
and cackled but thrice, the lord had leapt from his bed, [and so had] all
the men, so that the meal and the mass were properly despatched, the
company went on their way to the wood, before any daylight dawned,
to the chase. To the loud sound of huntsmen and horns, they soon pass
through meadows; they unleashed among the thorns hounds which ran
in a headlong course.
[1421] Soon the hounds signal [by baying] that they have a scent at the
edge of a wooded marsh; the huntsman urged on the hounds who had
first drawn attention to the scent, uttered excited words to them with a
loud noise. The hounds that heard it hastened there swiftly, and rushed
with all speed to the trail, forty at once. Then such a babble and noise rose
from the assembled hounds that the rocks round about rang. Huntsmen
encouraged them with horn and with voice; then all in a throng they
surged together between a pool in that wood and a forbidding crag. In
the middle of a wooded mound beside a high rock at the edge of the
marsh, where the rough hillside had fallen in confusion, the hounds went
to the dislodgement [of the quarry], with the men after them. The men
cast about both the crag and the wooded knoll, until they were sure they
had contained the beast whose presence had been revealed by the voices
of the bloodhounds. [1437] Then they beat the bushes and bade him
rise; and he came out menacingly, straight across the line of men. There
rushed out the most amazing boar, which had long since left the herd on
account of his age, for he was huge and broad, the greatest boar of all,
very fierce when he snorted; then many were troubled, for he flattened
three [men] to the earth at the first thrust, and sprang forward at a good
speed without [causing] further injury. Others shouted ‘Look out!’ very
loudly, and cried ‘Hey! Hey!’, put horns to mouth, quickly sounded the
recheat [to call the hounds together]. Many were the merry voices of
men and of hounds that hastened after this boar with clamour and with
noise, to kill it. Very often he stands at bay and causes injury in the midst
of the pack of hounds. He hurts some of the hounds, and they howl and
yell most miserably.
[1454] Men pushed forward to shoot at him then, shot their arrows at
him, hit him often; but the points which struck his shoulders were blunted
by the toughness [of them], and none would penetrate the bristles of his
brow; though the smooth shaft shattered in pieces, the head bounced
back wherever it hit. But when the blows of their incessant strokes hurt
him, then, maddened by the persistent attacks, he charges at the men,
injures them cruelly where he dashes forward; and many were afraid
at that and drew back. [1464] But the lord gallops after him on a swift
horse, he blows his horn like a bold warrior, he sounded the recheat,
and rode through thick bushes, pursuing this wild boar until the sun
was setting. They spend this day with this same activity in this manner,
while our gracious knight, Gawain, lies in his bed, comfortably at home
in bedclothes splendid of hue. The lady did not forget to come to greet
him; she visited him very early, in order to bring about a change in his
attitude.
[1476] She comes to the curtain and peeps at the knight. Sir Gawain
welcomed her courteously first, and she replies to him using very eager
language, sits herself softly by his side and laughs a good deal, and
with a look of love she bestowed these words on him: ‘Sir, if you are
Gawain, it seems to me a wonder, a man who is always so well disposed
to good things, and you cannot understand the manners of society, and
if someone teaches you to know them, you cast them from your mind:
you have quickly forgotten what I taught you yesterday in the very truest
teaching I could put into words.’ ‘What is that?’ said the knight. ‘Indeed
I do not know. If what you declare is true, the blame is mine.’ ‘But I
taught you about kissing,’ said the fair one then, ‘to claim it immediately
wherever favour is shown; that becomes every knight who practises
courtesy.’ [1492] ‘Put an end to that speech, my dear lady,’ said the bold
man, ‘for I would not dare do that, in case I were refused. If I offered
[a kiss] and were refused, I would, indeed, be [put in the] wrong.’ ‘On
my word,’ said the lovely lady, ‘you may not be refused; you are strong
enough to force the issue with strength, if it pleases you, if anyone were
ill-bred enough to refuse you.’ ‘Yes, by God,’ said Gawain, ‘you speak
well; but force is considered ignoble in the land where I live, and so is
every gift that is not given with a good will. I am at your command, to
kiss when it pleases you; you may take [a kiss] when it pleases you and
leave off when it seems good to you, in due course.’ The lady bends down
and graciously kisses his face. They utter many words there about the
punishments and favours of love.
[1508] ‘I would like to know from you, sir,’ the noble lady said at that
point, ‘if you did not become angry about this, what might be the reason
that one so young and so active as you are at this time, so courteous, so
chivalrous, as you are known far and wide – and from among the whole
[code] of chivalry, the thing principally praised is the faithful practice
of love, the very doctrine of knighthood; for to speak of the striving of
true knights, it is the rubric written at the head of their works, and the
very works themselves, how men have risked their lives for their true love,
endured grievous times of hardship for their love, and later avenged and
dispelled their sorrow through their valour, and brought joy into [their
ladies’] bower through their own merits – [1520] and you are known
as the most handsome knight of your generation, your fame and your
honour are spread abroad everywhere, and I have sat by you here on two
different occasions, yet I never heard any words come from your lips [lit.
head] that ever pertained to love at all. And you, who are so courteous
and fastidious in your promises, ought to be eager to show and teach a
young thing some tokens of the arts of true love. Why! are you ignorant,
you who possess all the renown, or else do you consider me too stupid to
listen to your courtly conversation? For shame! I come here alone and sit
to learn some pleasure from you; do teach me from your wisdom while
my lord is away from home.’
[1535] ‘In good faith,’ said Gawain, ‘may God reward you! It is a great
good pleasure and a huge delight to me that one as noble as you should
wish to come here and take pains with so worthless a man, as to amuse
yourself with your knight and show any kind of favour; it gives me
pleasure. But to take upon myself the task of expounding true love, and
relating the subject-matter and stories of chivalry to you, who (I know
well), possess more skill in that art, by far, than a hundred such as I am,
or ever shall be, while I live on earth, it would be a folly many times
over, my gracious lady, upon my honour. [1546] I should be willing to
carry out your wish to the best of my ability, as I am greatly obliged [to
do], and shall be your servant evermore, so help me God!’ In this way
that gracious lady put him to the test and tempted him often, in order to
bring him to wrong, whatever else she intended; but he defended himself
so fitly that no offence was apparent, nor any impropriety on either side,
nor were they aware of anything but pleasure. They laughed and amused
themselves for a long time; at last she kissed him, graciously took her
leave, and went on her way, indeed.
[1558] Then the knight bestirs himself and rises to mass, and afterwards
their dinner was prepared and courteously served. The knight amused
himself with the ladies all day, but the lord galloped over the fields again
and again, pursues his ill-fated boar, that rushes along the hillsides and
bit asunder the backs of the best of his hounds where he stood at bay, till
bowmen broke it [i.e. his stand], and made him move out into the open
despite all he could do, such deadly arrows flew there when the people
assembled. But yet he made the bravest men jump at times, till at last
he was so exhausted that he could run no more, but with all the haste
that he could he reached a hole in a water-course, by a rock where the
stream runs. [1571] He got the bank at his back, begins to scrape – the
froth foamed hideously at the corners of his mouth – sharpens his white
tusks. Then all the very brave men who stood round him became weary
of trying to hurt him from a distance, but none of them dared go near
him because of the danger; he had previously hurt so many that it then
seemed hateful to everyone to be torn any more by his tusks, [he] who
was both fierce and maddened.
[1581] Till the knight came himself, urging on his horse, saw him [i.e. the
boar] stand at bay near his men. He dismounts gracefully, leaves his horse,
draws out a bright sword and strides forward powerfully, hastens swiftly
through the ford where the fierce beast waits. The wild animal was aware
of the man with the weapon in his hand, raised his hair on end; he snorted
so fiercely that many feared for the man, lest the worst befell him. [1589]
The boar charges straight at the man, so that the man and the boar were
both in a heap in the strongest current of the stream. The other had the
worst of it, for the man aims at him well, as they first met, firmly placed
the blade right in the hollow at the base of the throat, struck him up to the
hilt, so that the heart broke apart, and he yielded snarling and was carried
downstream very quickly. A hundred hounds seized him, fiercely biting
him; men brought him to the bank and dogs do him to death.
[1601] There was the blowing of ‘capture’ on many loud horns, proud
shouting aloud by men who were able [to do so]; hounds bayed at that
beast, as the masters of game, who were the chief huntsmen of that
onerous chase, commanded. Then a man who was skilful in woodcrafts
begins to cut up this boar correctly. First he cuts off his head and sets
it on high, and then rends him all roughly along the backbone, draws
out the bowels, burns them on red-hot embers, with bread blended with
them rewards his hounds. [1611] Then he cuts out the meat in bright
broad slabs, and cuts up [the boar] into the prescribed parts, as is right
and proper; moreover he fastens the two complete sides together, and
afterwards hangs them securely on a strong pole. Now with this same
boar they hasten home. The boar’s head was borne in front of the very
knight who had killed it in the ford through the strength of his mighty
hand. He was impatient to see Sir Gawain in the hall; he called, and he
[i.e. Gawain] came promptly, to receive his payment there.
[1623] When he saw Sir Gawain, the lord speaks with pleasure, very
loudly and with merry laughter. The good ladies were sent for, and the
household assembled; he shows them the slabs of meat and recounts to
them the tale of the width and length of the wild boar, also the viciousness
of his defence, when he fled in the wood. The other knight very
courteously commended his deeds and praised his actions as giving proof
of great accomplishment, for, the bold knight said, he had never before
seen such a well-fleshed beast or such sides of a boar. Then they handled
the huge head; the noble man praised it and made a show of abhorrence
at it, in order to praise the lord. [1635] ‘Now, Gawain,’ said the host, ‘this
catch is your own by precise and binding agreement, you know truly.’ ‘It
is true,’ said the knight, ‘and as surely true [as you are], I shall give you all
my winnings in return, upon my honour.’ He took the man about the neck
and kisses him courteously, and again he served him there in the same way
[i.e. kissed him again]. ‘Now we are even,’ said the knight, ‘in this evening,
in respect of all the covenants that we have formally established since I
came here.’ The lord said: ‘By St Giles, you are the best that I know! You
will be rich in a while if you carry on such trade.’
[1648] Then they set up tables on trestles, threw cloths upon them;
bright lights then shone by walls, torches of wax. Servants laid the table
and served in the hall all around. Great noise and music sprang up
there around the fire in the hall, and in many ways at the supper and
afterwards, many noble songs such as Christmas part-songs and new
ring-dances, with all the dignified amusement that one may tell of. [1657]
And our gracious knight constantly beside the lady; she sweetly made
such a demonstration [of regard] to that man, with secret stolen looks, to
please that bold knight, that the man was quite astonished and inwardly
angry, but he would not repulse her on account of his good breeding, but
behaved with complete courtesy towards her, even though this might be
misconstrued. When they had amused themselves in the hall for as long
as they wished, he [i.e. the host] called him [i.e. Gawain] to the private
room and they went to the fireplace.
[1668] And there they drank and conversed, and agreed once more to
do the same on New Year’s Eve; but the knight asked leave to depart in
the morning, for it was near to the appointment to which he had to go.
The lord dissuaded him from that, persuaded him to stay, and said: ‘As
I am a true knight, I pledge my word of honour that you will reach the
Green Chapel to perform your business, sir, at first light on New Year’s
Day, long before prime [i.e. 9 a.m.]. Therefore lie in your bedroom and
take your ease, and I shall hunt in the wood and keep to the covenant,
exchange winnings with you when I return hither. [1679] For I have
tested you twice and I find you faithful. Now remember tomorrow [the
saying] “Third time, throw best”; let us make merry while we may and
think about joy, for one can get sorrow whenever one pleases.’ This
was readily agreed and Gawain is persuaded to stay; drink was happily
brought to them and they went to bed with lights. Sir Gawain lies and
sleeps very quietly and comfortably all night; the lord, who attends to his
sports, was dressed very early.
[1690] After mass, he and his men had a bite to eat. The morning
was fine; he asks for his mount. All the men who were to follow him
on horseback were ready prepared on their horses in front of the hall

gates. The countryside was very beautiful, for the frost clung [to it]; the
sun rises red, its redness reflected upon a bank of cloud, and in its full
brightness drives the clouds from the sky. Huntsmen unleashed [their
hounds] by the side of a wood; rocky banks rang in the wood with the
noise of their horns. Some [of the hounds] hit upon the scent where the
fox was lurking, trail again and again across it in their wily ingenuity. A
small hound gives tongue at it; the huntsman calls him on; his fellows
rush to him, panting very hard, they ran forward in a rabble on the
right track, and he [i.e. the fox] scampers before them; they found him
at once. [1705] And when they caught sight of him they pursued him
fast, vilifying him in no uncertain terms with a furious noise, and he
twists and turns through many a troublesome thicket, doubles back and
listens by hedges again and again. At last by a little ditch he leaps over a
fence, steals out quietly at the edge of a wooded marsh, thinking to have
escaped out of the wood by tricks, away from the hounds. He had turned
in then, before he knew it, to a well-placed hunting station, where three
fierce [hounds] – all greyhounds – came at him in a rush. He dodged
back quickly and leapt off violently in a changed direction. With all the
woe on earth he went away to the wood.
[1719] Then it was pleasure indeed to hear the hounds, [their voices]
mingled together, when all the pack had met up with him; on seeing him
they call down on him such an imprecation, as though all the clustering
cliffs were crashing in a heap. Here he was shouted at when men met
him, loudly he was greeted with snarling speech; there he was threatened
and often called ‘thief,’ and all the time the hounds on his tail, so that
he could not tarry. He was often run at when he broke cover, and often
swerved in again, so wily was Reynard. And yes! he led them astray, the
lord and his company, in this way among the hills until well on in the
afternoon, while the noble knight at home sleeps for the good of his
health within the fine curtains, in the cold morning. [1733] But the lady,
on account of her wooing, did not allow herself to sleep, nor did she
allow the purpose which stuck in her heart to become blunted, but rose
quickly, went there in a beautiful cloak, reaching to the floor, which was
perfectly furred with well trimmed skins; no seemly coif on her head, but
the noble jewels [i.e. pearls?] set about her hair-fret in clusters of twenty;
her lovely face and her throat laid all bare, her breast uncovered in front,
and also her back. She comes inside the bedroom door and closes it after
her, pushes open a window and calls the man, and this is how she urgently
exhorted him with her lively words, in a cheerful manner: ‘Ah! man, how
can you sleep? This morning is so bright.’ He was deep in uneasy sleep,
but then he heard her.
[1750] In the deep uneasy sleep of dreams that noble knight muttered,
as a man who was troubled by many oppressive thoughts, how Destiny
would deal out his fate to him on that day when he meets the man at
the Green Chapel, and must endure his blow without more resistance.
But when that fair lady came he recovered his wits, starts out of the
dreams and answers quickly. The lovely lady came, laughing sweetly,
bent over his handsome face and gracefully kissed him. He welcomes her
courteously with an urbane manner; [1760] he saw her so glorious and
splendidly dressed, so perfect in her features and of such fine complexion,
strong surging joy warmed his heart. With pleasant and gentle smiles
they fall into [conversation on] pleasant subjects, so everything that was
broached between them was bliss and happiness and joy. They uttered
friendly words; much delight was then in that place. There was great peril
between them, unless Mary be mindful of her knight.
[1770] For that noble princess pressed him so insistently, urged him so
near the limit, that he needs must either accept her love there or rudely
refuse. He was concerned about his courtesy, lest he should be boorish,
and more about his guilt if he were to commit sin and be a traitor to
the man who owned that house. ‘God forbid!’ said the man [to himself].
‘That shall not happen!’ With a little flirtatious wit he turned aside all the
expressions of affection that sprang from her mouth. [1779] The lady
said to the man: ‘You deserve blame if you do not love that person you
are lying beside, [who is] wounded in heart more than anybody in the
world, unless you have a sweetheart, someone dearer to you, who pleases
you better, and have pledged your word to that noble one, confirmed so
definitely that you do not care to break it – and that I now believe! And
I pray you that you now tell me that truly; for everything that is dear, do
not conceal the truth through guile.’ The knight said: ‘By St John’ (and
he smiled gently), ‘in faith I have no [sweetheart] at all, nor will I have
any for the time being.’
[1792] ‘That is a word,’ said that person, ‘that is worst of all; but I am
truly answered – that seems painful to me. Kiss me now, noble one, and I
shall go away; I can do nothing but lament as long as I live, as a woman
deeply in love.’ Sighing, she bent down and kissed him sweetly, and then
she parts from him and says as she stands: ‘Now, dear, at this parting, do
me this favour: give me something as your gift, your glove for example,
so that I may think of you, sir, to lessen my grief.’ ‘Now indeed,’ said
that man, ‘I wish I had here the most precious thing, for love of you,
that I have on earth, for you have deserved, indeed, exceedingly often
more recompense by rights than I could give. [1805] But to give you, as
a love-token, something of little worth! – it is not equal to your dignity
for you to have at this time a glove as a trophy given by Gawain. And I
am here on a mission in strange lands, and have no men with bags of fine
things (which I regret, lady) for friendship at this time; each man must
act according to his situation – do not take it amiss or be distressed.’ ‘No,
noble knight of high honour,’ said that lovely lady, ‘though I did not have
anything of yours, yet you should have something of mine.’
[1817] She offered him a fine ring of red gold workmanship, with a
glittering stone standing out, that sent forth flashing beams like the bright
sun; understand well, it was worth a huge amount. But the knight refused
it and quickly said: ‘Before God, I wish for no gifts, my fair lady, at this
time; I have none to offer you, nor will I take anything.’ She offered it
to him most earnestly, and he refuses her offer, and swore swiftly on his
word that he would not take it; and she was sorry that he refused and
said afterwards: ‘If you refuse my ring because it seems too valuable,
and you do not wish to be so greatly beholden to me, I shall give you
my girdle, which will profit you less.’ [1830] She quickly took a belt that
was fastened around her waist, tied over her gown, under the bright
cloak; it was made from green silk and mounted with gold, embroidered
all over, inlaid by hand. And that she offered to the man and cheerfully
implored him to take it, though it were of little value; and he said the
he would by no means touch either gold or treasure, before God should
send him the grace to accomplish the adventure to which he had devoted
himself there. ‘And therefore, I pray you, do not be displeased, and stop
your importunity, for I shall never agree to grant it to you. I am deeply
beholden to you because of your kindness, and [obliged] always to be
your servant in all circumstances.’
[1846] ‘Now, do you refuse this piece of silk,’ said the lady then, ‘because
it is plain in itself ? And so it seems, perhaps: look! it is no bigger than this
and its value is even less [than it seems]. But whoever knew the qualities
that are woven into it, he would esteem it at greater value, perhaps; for
whatever man is girt with this green belt, while he had it closely fastened
about him, there is no man under heaven who could cut him down,
for he could not be slain despite any strategem [i.e. trickery] on earth.’
Then the knight considered, and it came to his mind that it would be a
godsend [lit. jewel] for the hazard assigned to him: when he reached the
chapel to receive his doom, if he could escape without getting killed it
would be a fine strategem. [1859] Then he gave in to her insistence and
allowed her to speak, and she pressed the belt on him and offered it to
him earnestly, and he consented and gave in of his own free will, and she
implored him, for her sake, never to reveal it, but faithfully to conceal
it from her lord. The knight agrees that no one should ever know of it,
indeed, but they two, on any account. He thanked her often very much,
most earnestly with heart and thought; then she kissed the hardy knight
for the third time.
[1870] Then she takes her leave and leaves him there, for she could not
get any more pleasure from that man. When she had gone, Sir Gawain
quickly dresses himself, rises and decks himself out in noble array, puts
away the love-girdle the lady had given him, hid it most carefully where
he would find it again. Then he makes his way first of all to the chapel,
approached a priest in private and asked him there if he would hear his
confession and teach him better how his soul should be saved when he
should pass away. [1880] He made a clean confession there and revealed
his sins, the greater and the lesser, and begs for forgiveness, and asks the
man [i.e. the priest] for absolution; and he absolved him reliably and
made him as clean as if doomsday had been appointed on the next day.
And then he makes himself as cheerful among the noble ladies, with fine
ring-dances and all kinds of joy, as he never did except on that day, until
the dark night, with bliss. Everyone there took delight in him, and said:
‘Indeed, he was never yet so merry, since he came here, before this.’
[1893] Now let him stay in that shelter, where friendship befall him! The
lord is still in the field, pursuing his sport. He has headed off this fox that
he has followed for a long time; as he leapt over a fence to look for the
villain, at a place where he heard the hounds in full chase, Reynard came
moving through a rough thicket, and all the rabble in a rush hard on his
heels. The man was aware of the animal and waits cautiously, and draws
the bright sword and lunges at the beast. And he flinched on account of
the sharp blade and was about to retreat; a hound rushed to him, just
before he could do so, and right in front of the horse’s feet they all fell
on him and worried this wily beast with a fierce noise. [1906] The lord
swiftly dismounts and seizes him immediately, snatched him very quickly
out of the mouths of the hounds, holds him high over his head, shouts
loudly, and many fierce hounds bay at him there. Huntsmen hurried there
with a great many horns, sounding the recheat in proper fashion all the
time until they saw the man. When his noble company had come, all
who carried a horn blew together and all the others, who had no horns,
shouted; it was the most joyful sound that anyone ever heard, the glorious
noise that was raised for Reynard’s soul with clamour. They reward their
hounds there, they fondle and stroke their heads, and then they take
Reynard and strip off his coat.
[1922] Then they make for home, for it was nearly night, sounding loudly
on their powerful horns. The lord has arrived at last at his beloved home,
finds a fire in the hall, the knight beside it, the good Sir Gawain, who
was happy with everybody – he experienced much joy among the ladies
on account of friendship. He wore a silk garment of blue, which reached
to the floor; his surcoat, which was softly furred, suited him well, and his
matching hood hung on his shoulder; both were trimmed all around with
fur. He meets the host in the middle of the floor, and greeted him jovially,
and said graciously: ‘I shall now be first to fulfil our agreement, which we
happily affirmed when the drink flowed freely.’ [1936] Then he embraces
the knight and kisses him three times, as feelingly and deliberately as he
could place them. ‘By Christ,’ said the other knight, ‘you have had a lot
of luck in obtaining this merchandise, if you found the market good.’
‘Oh never mind the market,’ said the other quickly, ‘since the gain which
I obtained is publicly paid.’ ‘Mary,’ said the other man, ‘mine is inferior,
for I have hunted all this day and have got nothing but this vile fox skin
– the Devil take the goods! – and that is very poor to pay for such precious
things as you have earnestly imprinted on me, three such good kisses.’
‘Enough,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘I thank you, by the Cross.’ And as they stood
he [i.e. the host] told him how the fox was slain.
[1953] With merriment and minstrelsy, with dishes to their taste, they
made as merry as anyone could, with laughter of ladies, with jesting
speeches (Gawain and the host were both as merry as they could be),
unless the company had been demented or else drunk. Both the man [i.e.
the host] and the company made many jokes, until the time had come
that they must part; men had to go to their beds at last. Then this gracious
man humbly takes his leave of the lord first, and courteously thanks him
‘for such a marvellous stay as I have had here. May the Supreme King
reward you for your hospitality at this solemn festival! [1964] I pledge
[lit. give] myself to you [i.e. as your servant] in return for one of your
own, if it pleases you, for I must needs go tomorrow, as you know, if you
will offer me a man, as you promised, to show me the way to the Green
Chapel, as God will allow me to partake of the judgement of my fate on
New Year’s Day.’ ‘In good faith,’ said the host, ‘with a good will, all that
I ever promised you I shall hold ready.’ He assigns a servant there to set
him on the way and conduct him beside the hills, so that he had no delay,
to ride through the forest and go most directly beside the woods. Gawain
thanked the lord for proffering him such an honour. Then the knight has
taken his leave of the fine ladies.
[1979] He speaks to them with sorrow and with kisses, and he urged
them to accept many hearty thanks; and they promptly gave him the
same in return. They commended him to Christ with melancholy sighs;
then he departs courteously from the household. He thanked each man
he came to for his service and his kindness and his particular trouble that
each had taken to serve him with solicitude; and each man was as sorry
to part from him there as if they had always lived honourably with that
fine knight. [1989] Then with men and lights he was led to his bedroom
and gladly brought to his bed to be at his rest. Whether or not he slept
soundly I dare not say, for he had much to ponder on the next day, if he
wished to, in thought. Let him lie there quietly; he has what he sought
nearby. If you will be quiet for a while, I shall tell you what they did.
IV
[1998] Now the New Year approaches and the night passes, the day
presses against the darkness, as God commands. But wild storms awoke
in the world outside; clouds drove the cold keenly down to the earth, and
there was bitter wind enough from the north to torment the unprotected
flesh. The snow showered down sharply, stinging the wild animals;
the whistling wind struck down from the high ground and filled every
valley with huge snowdrifts. The man who lay in his bed heard it very
well – though he keeps his eyes closed, he sleeps very little; every time
a cock crowed he was aware of the hour. Quickly he got up before the
day dawned, for there was light from a lamp that shone in his bedroom.
He called to his manservant, who promptly answered him, and bade
him bring him his coat of mail and saddle his horse. [2013] The other
man bestirs himself and fetches him his clothes, and dresses Sir Gawain
magnificently. First he clad him in his clothes, to keep out the cold, and
then his other accoutrements, which had been carefully kept: both his
abdominal armour and his pieces of plate-armour polished very bright,
the rings of his splendid mail-coat rocked free of rust; and everything was
as bright as in the beginning, and he gave hearty thanks [for that]. He
[now] had on him every piece, polished most splendidly; the most elegant
(knight) from here to Greece ordered the man to bring his horse.
[2025] While he was putting the finest clothes on himself – his surcoat
with the badge of bright workmanship set upon velvet, with potent gems
inlaid and clasped everywhere, the seams embroidered, and beautifully
lined with fine furs – still he did not leave off the belt, the lady’s gift;
Gawain did not forget that, for his own good. When he had belted the
sword upon his rounded hips, then he arranged his love-token twice about
himself, wrapped it carefully about his waist, happily, that knight; the
girdle of green silk well suited the magnificent knight, upon the glorious
red cloth, that was splendid in appearance. [2037] But this same man
did not wear this girdle for [its] costliness, for pride of the pendants,
though they were polished, and though the glittering gold glinted at the
ends [of them], but to save himself when he had to suffer, to endure
calamity without resistance, to defend him from sword or knife. When,
soon after, the brave man, fully equipped, comes outside, he thanks the
noble household often and abundantly.
[2047] Then Gringolet was prepared, that massive great horse, having
been lodged in comfort and in a trustworthy manner: that high-mettled
horse was in the mood to gallop then, because of his [fine] condition.
The man goes to him and looks at his coat, and said solemnly to himself
and swears on his word: ‘There is a company herein this castle who
bear courtesy in mind. The man [who] supports them, may he have
joy; the dear lady, may she be loved while she lives! If they welcome a
guest out of charity and dispense favour [i.e. hospitality], may the Lord
who governs heaven on high reward them, and also you all! [2058] And
if I might lead life on earth any length of time, I should willingly offer
you some recompense, if I might.’ Then he steps into the stirrup and
mounts; his man offered him his shield, he took it on his shoulder, spurs
Gringolet with his gilt heels, and he leaps forward on the pavement – he
no longer stood prancing. His man, who bore his spear and lance, was
then mounted. ‘I commend this castle to Christ’ – he wished it good
fortune for ever.
[2069] The drawbridge was let down, and the wide gates unbarred and
swung open on both sides. The knight crossed himself quickly and passed
over the boards, compliments the porter [who] knelt before the prince
– [and the porter] wished him good day and commended him to God,
[praying] that He would save Gawain – and went on his way with no one
but his man, who was to direct him to make his way to that perilous place
where he must receive the terrible blow. They pass by hillsides where
boughs are bare; they climbed by crags where the cold clings. [2079]
The clouds were high, but threatening underneath. Mist lay damp on the
moor, condensed on the mountains; each hill had a hat, a huge cap-cloud.
Brooks bubbled and splashed on the hillsides round about, dashing white
on the banks, where they [i.e. the riders] made their way down. The path
which they had to take through the wood was very devious, until it was
soon the time when the sun rises at that time of year. They were on a
very high hill; the white snow lay round about. The man who rode beside
him bade his master to stop.
[2091] ‘For I have brought you here, sir, at his time, and now you are
not far from that well-known place which you have inquired and asked
about so particularly. But I shall tell you truly, since I know you, and you
are indeed a man whom I love well: if you would act according to my
judgement, it would be the better for you. The place that you hasten to
is considered very perilous: in that deserted place there dwells a man, the
worst on earth, for he is bold and grim and loves to strike [blows], and he
is bigger than any man on earth, and his body stronger than the best four
that are in Arthur’s house, [or] Hector, or anyone else. [2103] He brings
it about at the Green Chapel that no one passes by that place so proud
in his arms that he does not strike him dead with a blow of his hand;
for he is an intemperate man and practises no mercy. For be it churl or
chaplain who rides by the chapel, monk or ordained priest, or any other
man, it seems to him as pleasant a thing to kill him as to remain alive
himself. Therefore I tell you: as truly as you sit in the saddle, if you go
there you will be killed, if the knight has his way – believe you me, truly
– though you had twenty lives to lose. He has dwelt here for a long time,
[and] caused much strife on the battlefield; you cannot defend yourself
against his grievous blows.
[2118] ‘Therefore, good Sir Gawain, let the man alone and go away
some other way, for God’s sake! Go through some other region, may God
help you! And I shall hurry home again; and promise you moreover that I
shall swear “by God and all His good saints”, “as may God and the holy
object help me”, and many oaths, that I shall faithfully keep your secret
and never utter an account that you ever attempted to flee because of any
man as far as I knew.’ ‘Many thanks,’ said Gawain, and ill-humouredly he
said: ‘Good luck befall you, sir, who intended to benefit me, who I believe
would have faithfully kept my secret; [2129] but no matter how faithfully
you kept it, if I passed this place, hastened to flee for fear, in the manner
that you describe, I would be a cowardly knight, I could not be excused.
But I am determined to go to the chapel, whatever may happen, and
speak whatever words I wish with that same man, whether good or ill
come of it, as Providence sees fit to dispose. Though he may be a grim
fellow to master, and armed with a club, the Lord is well able to ordain
that His servants should be saved.’
[2140] ‘Mary!’ said that other man, ‘now you so much as say that you
wish to bring your own harm upon yourself, and that it pleases you to
lose your life, I do not care to dissuade you. Here take your helmet on
your head, your spear in your hand, and ride down this same path, by
the side of that rock, till you are brought to the bottom of the wild valley.
Then look a little way off in the glade, on your left hand, and you will
see in that valley the very chapel and the huge warrior who keeps it.
Now farewell, in God’s name, Gawain the noble! [2150] I would not go
with you for all the gold on earth, nor keep you company through this
wood one foot further.’ Then the man in the wood pulls round his bridle,
hit the horse with his heels as hard as he could, gallops over the plain,
and leaves the knight there alone. ‘By God Himself,’ said Gawain, ‘I will
neither weep not groan; I am entirely obedient to God’s will and to Him
I have committed myself.’
[2160] Then he spurs Gringolet and picks up the path, pushes on past a
rock at the edge of a thicket, rides down through the wooded slope right
to the bottom. And then he looked about him, and it seemed wild to him,
and he saw no sign of habitation anywhere about, only high and steep
banks on both sides, and rough, lumpy crags with rugged outcrops; the
clouds seemed to him to be grazed by the jutting rocks. Then he paused
and restrained his horse at that time, and looked repeatedly from side to
side, seeking the chapel. He saw nothing of the kind on any side – and it
seemed strange to him – except, at a short distance across a glade, a sort
of mound, a smooth-surfaced barrow on the side of a slope beside the
water’s edge, by the channel of a stream which passed there; the burn
surged in it [i.e. the channel] as if it were boiling. [2175] The knight
spurs his horse and came to the mound, dismounts gracefully, and ties
the reins of his noble steed to the rough branch of a tree. Then he goes
to the barrow, walks about it, debating with himself what it might be. It
had a hole at the end and on either side, and was overgrown with grass
in patches everywhere, and was all hollow within, only an old cave or a
crevice in an old crag – he could not say which it was. ‘Alas! Lord,’ said
the noble knight, ‘is this the Green Chapel? The devil might well recite
his matins here around midnight!’
[2189] ‘Now indeed,’ said Gawain, ‘it is desolate here; this chapel is
threatening, overgrown with plants. It well suits the man dressed in green
to perform his devotions here in the Devil’s manner; now I feel, in my
five senses, that it is the Devil who has imposed this appointment on
me to destroy me here. This is a chapel of doom; ill fortune befall it! It
is the most accursed church that I ever came in!’ With high helmet on
his head, his lance in his hand, he winds his way up to the roof of that
rough abode. Then he heard from that high hill, [coming from] within
a hard rock beyond the brook, on a hillside, an exceedingly loud noise.
[2201] Wow! it clattered on the cliff as if it would split asunder, as though
someone were grinding a scythe on a grindstone. Wow! it whirred and
rasped like water at a mill; wow! it swished and rang out, ghastly to hear.
Then ‘By God,’ said Gawain, ‘that equipment, as I believe, is being
prepared in honour of marking out the field of combat for me, with due
ceremony. Let God’s will be done! [To cry] “Alas!” will not help me a bit.
Even though I lose my life, no noise shall make me fear.’
[2212] Then the knight called very loudly: ‘Who is in charge in this
place, to keep an appointment with me? For now good Gawain is walking
right here. If any man wants anything, let him come here quickly, now
or never, to further his business.’ ‘Wait!’ said someone on the hill high
above his head, ‘and you will very soon have what I once promised you.’
Still he swished on hastily with that noise for a while, and turned back
to his sharpening, before he would come down; and then he makes his
way by a crag and comes out of a hole, whirling out of a nook with a
formidable weapon, a battle-axe, newly prepared, with which to return
the blow, [2224] with a huge blade fastened to the handle, sharpened on
a grindstone, four feet wide [i.e. from point to point] – it was no less, by
that belt which shone brightly! – and the man in green, attired as at first,
both the face and the legs, hair and beard, except that gracefully on his
feet he moves quickly on the ground, set the handle to the rock and strode
alongside. When he came to the water, where he did not wish to wade,
he vaulted over on his axe and boldly strides in the snow, fiercely grim,
on a field that was broad round about. Sir Gawain greeted the knight; he
did not bowed at all low to him. The other said: ‘Now, dear sir, you can
be trusted to keep an appointment.’
[2239] ‘Gawain,’ said that green man, ‘may God watch over you! Indeed
you are welcome, sir, to my place, and you have timed your journey as
a true man should; and you know the conditions arranged between us:
twelve months ago at this time of year you were to take what fell to your
lot, and I should promptly repay you at this New Year. And in this valley
we are truly on our own; here are no men to part us, fight as we like.
Take your helmet off your head, and receive your pay here. [2248] Make
no more resistance than I offered to you then, when you whipped off my
head at a single stroke.’ ‘No, by God,’ said Gawain, ‘who gave me a soul,
I shall not bear you the slightest ill-will, whatever injury befalls me; only
limit yourself to one stroke, and I shall stand still and utter no resistance
to your doing as you wish anywhere.’ He leant and bowed his neck and
showed the white flesh all bare, and behaved as though he feared nothing;
he did not intend to flinch for fear.
[2259] Then the man in green quickly prepared himself, heaves up his
grim weapon, to smite Gawain; with all the strength in his body he lifted
it on high, aimed at him as powerfully as if he intended to destroy him.
Had it hurtled down as forcibly as he pretended, he who was ever brave
[i.e. Gawain] would have died there from his blow. But Gawain glanced
sideways at that battle-axe as it came gliding down to destroy him in a
flash, and shrank a little with his shoulders on account of the sharp iron.
The other man checks the bright weapon with a sudden deflection, and
then reproved the prince with many proud words: [2270] ‘You are not
Gawain,’ said the man, ‘who is considered so good, who never quailed
because of any army by hill or by valley, and now you flee for fear before
you feel injuries! I never did hear of such cowardice on the part of that
knight. I neither flinched nor flew, sir, when you aimed a blow, nor uttered
any objection in the house of king Arthur. My head flew to my feet and
yet I never fled; and you, before receiving any injury, are afraid at heart.
For which reason I ought to be called the better man.’ Gawain said: ‘I
flinched once and will do so no more; but if my head falls on the ground
I cannot replace it.
[2284] ‘But make haste, sir, by your honour, and come to the point with
me – mete out my destiny to me and do it at once. For I shall stand a
stroke from you and start no more until your axe has hit me – have here
my word of honour.’ ‘Have at you then!’ said that other man, and heaves
it [i.e. the axe] up, and looks as fiercely as though he were mad. He aims
at him powerfully but does not touch the man, suddenly restraining his
hand before it could do harm. Gawain waits for it properly and flinched
in no limb, but remained as steady as the rock or else a stump that
is anchored in rocky soil with a hundred roots. Then he spoke again
cheerfully, the man in the green: ‘So, now you have all your courage [lit.
your heart whole], I am obliged to strike. [2297] May the noble order of
knighthood which Arthur bestowed upon you keep you now and preserve
your neck at this stroke, if it is able to accomplish that!’ Gawain very
fiercely then said with vexation: ‘Why, strike on, you fierce man! You
threaten too long. I believe that you have struck fear into your own heart
[lit. your heart is afraid of yourself].’ ‘Indeed,’ said the other man, ‘you
speak so fiercely, I will no longer continue to hinder your business right
now.’ Then he takes his stance to strike and puckers both lip and brow.
No wonder if it displeases him who expected no rescue.
[2309] He swiftly lifts his weapon and let it down precisely with the edge
of the blade beside the bare neck. Though he struck fiercely, he hurt him
no more than to nick him on the one side, so that the skin parted. The
blade sank to the flesh through the white skin, so that the bright blood
spurted to the ground over his shoulders. And when the man saw the
blood shine on the snow, he leapt forward with feet together more than a
spear’s length, quickly grabbed his helmet and threw it on his head, with
his shoulders he jerked down his fair shield, pulls out a bright sword and
speaks fiercely – [2320] never since he was a child born of his mother
was he ever in this world half so happy – ‘Cease, sir, from your onslaught!
Offer me no more! I have taken a stroke in this place without resistance,
and if you give me any more I shall quickly repay [them] and promptly
give them back – depend on that – and in hostility. Only one stroke falls
to my lot here – the covenant established in Arthur’s halls ordained just

so – and therefore, gracious knight, now stop!’
[2331] The knight moved away from him and rested on his axe, set the
shaft on the ground and leant on the blade, and looked towards the man
who was walking on the glade, how that brave man, undaunted, boldly
stands there, armed, most fearless; it pleases him at heart. Then he speaks
cheerfully in a great voice and, in a resounding speech, he said to the
man: ‘Bold knight, do not be so angry on this battle-field. No one has
treated you discourteously here, nor acted otherwise than as the covenant
at the king’s court laid down. I promised you a stroke and you have it
– consider yourself well paid. I release you from all remaining obligations
whatever. If I had been unrestrained, I could perhaps have repaid a blow
more harshly and have done you harm. [2345] First I threatened you
playfully with a feint only, and did not cut you with a gash. I offered [it]
to you with justice, because of the agreement that we confirmed on the
first night; and you faithfully and honestly keep your agreement with to
me: you gave me all your winnings, as a good man should. The second
feint I offered you, sir, for the next day: you kissed my fair wife, and gave
the kisses to me. For both [these] two [occasions] I offered you here only
two mere feints, without harm. A true person must restore truly; then one
need fear no danger. On the third [occasion] you failed in that respect,
and therefore [you must] receive that tap.
[2358] ‘For it is my garment that you are wearing, that same woven
girdle. My own wife gave it to you, I truly know well. Now I know all
about your kisses and your actions also, and about my wife’s wooing.
I brought it about myself; I sent her to test you, and truly you seem
to me the most faultless man who ever lived [lit. walked]. As the pearl
in comparison with the white [i.e. dried] pea is of greater value, so is
Gawain, in respect of good faith, beside other fine knights. Only in this
respect a little was lacking in you, sir, and you were wanting in good faith;
but that was not for any intricate workmanship, nor for wooing either,
but because you loved your life – I blame you the less.’ The other bold
man stood in thought a great while, so overcome with vexation that he

shuddered within; all the blood from his breast suffused his face, so that
he quite shrank for shame at what the man said. [2373] The very first
words that the knight uttered [were]: ‘Cursed be both cowardice and
covetousness! In you is degeneracy and vice, which destroy virtue.’ Then
he seized the knot and undoes the fastening, violently flung the belt to the
man himself: ‘Look! there is the deception – may evil befall it! Because of
concern about your blow, cowardice taught me to reconcile myself with
covetousness, and to forsake my nature: that is liberality and good faith,
which pertain to knights. Now I am sinful and dishonourable, I who have
always been afraid of treachery and dishonesty – may sorrow and care
betide both of them! I acknowledge to you, knight, in private here, my
conduct has been completely at fault. Let me understand your wish, and
next time I shall be cautious.’
[2389] Then that other man laughed and said in a friendly manner: ‘I
consider it assuredly amended, the injury that I had. You are confessed
so clean, your offences acknowledged, and have had penance plainly from
the point of my blade. I consider you cleansed of that guilt and purified
as completely as if you had never transgressed since you were first born.
I give you, sir, the girdle that is hemmed with gold; [2396] because it is
green like my gown, Sir Gawain, you may think about this bout of ours
when you mingle again among noble princes, and this will be a noble
token of the exploit of the Green Chapel in the dwellings of chivalrous
knights. And you must [come] back in this New Year to my abode, and
we shall revel for the remainder of this glorious festival very pleasantly.’
The lord there invited him pressingly and said: ‘I believe we shall fully
reconcile you with my wife, who was your bitter enemy.’
[2407] ‘No, truly,’ said the knight, and seized his helmet, and takes it off
courteously and thanks the man, ‘I have stayed long enough – may good
fortune befall you, and may He who institutes all honours soon repay
you for it [i.e. your hospitality]! And commend me to that gracious lady,
your fair wife, both the one and the other, my honoured ladies, who have
thus cleverly beguiled their knight with their trick. But it is no wonder
if a fool behave stupidly and is brought to sorrow through the wiles of
women; for so was Adam of old beguiled by one, and Solomon by many
different [ones], and Samson, again – Delilah meted out his fate to him
– and similarly David was deluded by Bathsheba, and endured much
sorrow. [2420] Since these were troubled by their wiles, it would be a
great advantage to love them well and not trust them, if a man could.
For these were of old the noblest, those who were pre-eminently favoured
by fortune, of all those upon earth who have wandered in mind; and all
these were deceived by women with whom they had relations. If I am
now beguiled, it seems to me that I ought to be excused.
[2429] ‘But your girdle,’ said Gawain, ‘ – may God reward you! – that I
shall keep willingly, not for the precious gold, nor the girdle, nor the silk,
nor the long pendants, [nor] for the value of it or the honour of ownership,
nor for the fine ornamentation; but I shall often see it as a sign of my
transgression, when I ride in honour lament to myself the sinfulness and
the fallibility of the perverse flesh, how liable it is to catch blemishes of
sin. And thus, when pride shall incite me on account of chivalric prowess,
looking at this love-girdle will humble my heart. But one thing I would ask
of you, do not be offended: since you are lord of the land yonder in which
I have stayed with you with honour – may the Being who holds up the
heavens and sits on high reward you for it – what is [lit. how do you call]
your true name? – and that is all.’ [2444] ‘That I shall tell you truly,’ said
the other then: ‘I am called Bertilak de Hautdesert in this land. Through
the power of Morgan la Fay, who lives in my house, and [her] skill in
learning, [she who is] well instructed in magic arts – she has acquired
many of the miraculous powers of Merlin, for she has formerly had very
intimate love-dealings with that excellent scholar, as all your knights at
home know. Her name is therefore Morgan the goddess; there is no one so
exalted in pride whom she cannot humble completely.
[2456] ‘She sent me in this array [i.e. as the Green Knight] to your fair
hall to make trial of your pride, [to see] if [the report] which is current,
of the great renown of the Round Table, is true. She sent this marvel to
deprive you of your senses, in order to distress Guinevere and cause her
to die from terror at that man who spoke in supernatural manner with
his head in his hand before the high table. That is she who is at home,
the aged lady; she is actually your aunt, Arthur’s half-sister, the daughter
of the duchess of Tintagel [i.e. Igerne], upon whom the noble Uther
later begot Arthur, who is now famous. [2467] Therefore I entreat you,
sir, come to your aunt. Make merry in my house: my household loves you
and I bear you as much good will, sir, on my honour, as I do any man on
earth, because of your great integrity.’ And he told him ‘No!’ – he would
not on any account. They embrace and kiss and commend each other
to the Prince of Paradise, and part right there on the wintry ground.
Gawain happily on his horse hastens valiantly to the king’s castle, and the
knight in the pure green to wherever he wished.
[2479] Gawain, whose life had been reprieved, now rides wild pathways
in the world on Gringolet; often he lodged where he had a roof over his
head and often completely outside, and many times overcame hazards in
valleys, which I do not intend at this time to relate. The wound that he
had received in his neck had healed and he wore the shining belt round
it, diagonally, like a baldric, tied at his side, the belt fastened under his left
arm with a knot, in order to signify that he had been found guilty of a
fault. And thus he comes to the court, a knight safe and sound. Joy awoke
in that dwelling when the nobles learned that good Gawain had come;
it seemed excellent to them. [2492] The king kisses the knight, and the
queen also, and then many a trustworthy knight who came to greet him,
who asked him about his journey; and he tells his amazing story, confesses
all the hardships that he had, the episode in the chapel, the behaviour of
the knight, the wooing of the lady, finally the belt. He laid bare to them
the nick in his neck, which he received at the knight’s hands as a reproof
for his faithlessness. He suffered torment when he had to tell; he groaned
for grief and vexation. The blood flowed into his face, for shame, when he
had to reveal it.
[2505] ‘Look! lord,’ said the knight, and took hold of the belt, ‘this
is the ribbon of this reproof [i.e. the scar] which I carry in my neck.
This is the injury and the damage which I have obtained because of
cowardice and covetousness, which infected me there; this is the token
of infidelity in which I have been detected. And I must needs wear it
as long as I may live; for one may conceal one’s offence but one cannot
remove it, for where it is once attached it will never be separated.’ The
king comforts the knight, and all the court also laugh loudly at that [i.e.
Gawain’s speech] and agree in a friendly manner that lords and knights
who belonged to the Table, each man of the brotherhood, should have a
baldric, a ribbon about him diagonally, of a bright green, and wear it in
the same manner [as Gawain], for the sake of that knight. [2519] For that
was agreed [to be] the glory of the Round Table, and he [was] honoured
who had it, for ever after, as it is told in the best book of romance. Thus
in Arthur’s day this adventure happened – the chronicles of Britain bear
witness to it. Since Brutus, the bold warrior, first came here, after the
siege and the attack at Troy had ended, indeed, many exploits of this
kind have happened in times past. Now may He who wore the crown of
thorns bring us to His bliss! Amen.
Evil be to him who thinks evil.

The Poems of The Pearl Manuscript in Modern English Prose Translation Pearl, Cleanness, Patience, Sir Gawain and The Green Knight by Malcolm Andrew, Ronald Waldron (Transl.)

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The Poems of The Pearl Manuscript in Modern English Prose Translation Pearl, Cleanness, Patience, Sir Gawain and The Green Knight by Malcolm Andrew, Ronald Waldron (Transl.)

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The Poems of

the Pearl Manuscript

The near-literal prose translations are intended to facilitate understanding

Malcolm Andrew was previously Professor of English Language and

Pearl, Cleanness, Patience,

LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY PRESS

This edition published 2013 by

Copyright © 2013 Malcolm Andrew and Ronald Waldron

The rights of Malcolm Andrew and Ronald Waldron to be identified as the

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication data

Typeset by Carnegie Book Production, Lancaster

MALCOLM ANDREW AND RONALD WALDRON

One of the recurring features of these poems is their tendency to

3. Suggestions for further reading

Single-volume edition of the four poems

Individual editions of the four poems

Criticism and reference

Lovely pearl, which it pleases a prince to set radiantly in gold so bright:

[25] That place is bound to be overspread with spice-bearing plants,

[109] The adornment[s] of those splendid waters were beautiful banks

[157] More marvels daunted my mind. Beyond that beautiful water I

[217] The wristband and every hem – at hand, at sides, at neck-opening

[301] ‘I consider unworthy of praise that jeweller who believes well

[361] Then I said to that damsel: ‘Let there be no offence to my Lord if

[421] ‘Blissful one,’ I said, ‘can this be true? – do not be offended if I

[457] ‘Through divine grace, as St Paul says, we are all members of

[565] ‘“‘Moreover, is it not lawful for me to give – to do whatever I please

an incontrovertible point [of doctrine]: “You reward each one according

[697] ‘However, concerning just men, a certain man, David, says in

[829] ‘Thus in Jerusalem my sweet Love was twice recognized as a

[841] ‘This Lamb of Jerusalem never had any contamination of any

[877] ‘“Nevertheless, though it rang out piercingly, and though they

reject my piteous prayer. Have you no dwelling-place with castle-wall, no

[925] ‘This spotless company you tell me of – such a great company of

[1081] No human heart on earth could endure so great a wonder as

summons, full of similar virgins in the same dress as my blissful crowned

[1117] It would be impossible to describe the delight His coming brought.

[1177] It pleased me very ill to be driven so suddenly out of that lovely

[1201] To please the Prince or be reconciled [to Him] is very easy to

Whoever were to commend cleanness fittingly, and reckon up all the

that He made because of loathsome deeds; that which He had dearly

it swiftly; and he prepared it quickly at his command. [633] The man

displayed, though it is not considered the most valuable to exchange for

waggons he finds the ruler [i.e. Nebuchadnezzar], delivers to the king

proclamation: “He who instructs the king, in expounding the language

clothed in garments of fine cloth, as the agreement required; immediately

Patience is a virtue, though it may often displease. When sorrowful hearts

me in a foot-shackle, pluck out my eyes. [81] This is a marvellous message

merciful, for the power to do harm is not to be exercised without mercy

[37] This king was in residence at Camelot at Christmas with many

adornment of the breast-harness and of the splendid saddle-skirts, the

[713] He climbed over many cliffs in strange regions. Having wandered

[901] Then inquiry was made in a tactful manner, by discreet questions

favour of his company and he swiftly asks to be their servant truly if it

on horseback were ready prepared on their horses in front of the hall

to my lot here – the covenant established in Arthur’s halls ordained just

man stood in thought a great while, so overcome with vexation that he

Evil be to him who thinks evil.

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